Posted Tuesday, November 20, 2012 @ 02:22 PM  

It will use an RF "Luggage Locator" with a range of 60' as the transmitter/receiver devices and the receiver will be interfaced to a tiny programmable MSP430-F2012 Microprocessor to supply the correct inputs to the camera.

The USB part is simply the programmer for the F2012 unit.

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B2_PBsdamZ6gUm5jTlE3RVktbUE

Wireless is surely a lot more convenient and allows much more flexibility in the camera mounting location.

I'll report the status of my experiment as I go.
If its successful, I can make them available to others.

Posted Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 11:06 AM  

I believe the GoPro has a microphone jack on the side, so its just a matter of getting a tiny tie clip sized Mic with a long lead and slipping it into the headset earpiece.

Simple.....brilliant!

The only drawback I can see with the wireless is that you will not have an "on" LED at the transmitting end to confirm the camera is on.

However, the camera end will have an LED and maybe a beeper to confirm the camera is on.

Doesn't do much good though if you can't see or hear it.

I'll be giving that issue some more thought once I get the locator and determine whether 2 way communication is occurring with the transmitter.

It seems to have a proximity function which implies 2 way.

[Edit by jb92563 on Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 11:16 AM]

Posted Tuesday, October 22, 2013 @ 04:38 PM  

They have arrived, I ordered 100's of everything so I should have plenty for this and other projects.

I have already programed 3 of the microprocessor chips so I should just be able to solder it up and it should work immediately.

I also ordered the 5x magnifying hear gear which is key to being able to solder these tiny buggers.

I should be able to put one together this Saturday morning and report on the results.

I'll bread board it first and if everything works as designed it will be a success.

Apparently the newer GoPro's and even those loaded with the newer firmware will not work with this
remote add-on since the GoPro folks decided to remove the Instant recording feature in later releases.

Posted Friday, November 1, 2013 @ 03:10 PM  

The Wireless remote for the GoPro camera Works....hurray!!!

I breadboarded it to make sure it was going to work properly and in the end I had to modify the software several times
until I got the settings right for our application.

What I found out was that by changing software settings:

1) you can set the software to respond to the wireless RF remote and turn on the GoPro for X amount of time and take videos or pictures and then turn off on its own. You just trigger it ON only.

2) You can set the software to continually take a picture every X seconds indefinitely, until the battery dies. No Triggering at all just plug the device into the cameras port and the cycle begins because the camera provides the units power whether its turned on or not.

3) You can set the camera to turn ON and OFF via the wireless RF remote where YOU control the duration. Most useful for taking video.

Anyway here is the link to the video demonstration: http://youtu.be/o96sxmwK4Kc

Next step is to solder it in its most compact configuration and design a custom plastic case made for it here: http://www.shapeways.com/makerdiy/mechanical-parts?li=nav

[Edit by jb92563 on Friday, November 1, 2013 @ 03:13 PM]

Posted Thursday, November 7, 2013 @ 08:55 PM  

Instead of paying a few bucks to get a plastic enclosure made I took the plunge into 3D Printing and by January should have my own 3D Printer operational.

I ordered all the parts to build an "OrdBot Hadron" 3D Printer
plus some ABS and PLA plastic.

http://youtu.be/JEJL_6TL_Q0

So, if you need an ABS or PLA plastic part or prototype printed in 2014, just let me know.

[Edit by jb92563 on Thursday, November 7, 2013 @ 08:55 PM]

[Edit by jb92563 on Thursday, November 7, 2013 @ 08:59 PM]