Hi everyone,
I’m planning to get the MarineSitu C3 Stereo Camera, but I’m not using it with a BlueROV2. I want to connect it directly to a computer for my own project.
Before I buy it, I have a few questions:
Is it possible to use the C3 camera standalone (without a BlueROV2 or other vehicle/controller)?
What hardware connections would I need to connect it to a computer (e.g., USB, Ethernet, power requirements)?
What software/drivers are required on the computer side to capture images, calibrate the stereo pair, and process the data?
Is it possible to get a longer cable for the camera, and if so, how long can it be and what type of cable do I need?
Hi @DiegoG -
Welcome to the forums!
It’s definitely possible to use the C3 camera standalone - it is just a POE Oak stereo camera in a depth-rated housing, with calibration onboard.
You’ll connect to the device with ethernet, and you’ll need to provide it with a DHCP address (this is a setting in BlueOS, where the network is just the ROV + C3 +Control Computer. If you’re connecting to your local network you likely have a DHCP server running somewhere.) You also supply the unit with DC power, 12–24V.
No calibration is required, this has already been performed (underwater) in a tank by MarineSitu! You can capture the output in many ways, but Madrona is the MarineSitu developed interface, available as a BlueOS extension or docker container. You should be able to run this software independently, especially if you’re familiar with docker. It’s possible to stream quite a bit of data from the camera - often more than even a 100 Mbit connection could provide, so take caution when testing and start “small.” You can also easily test things with the Oak viewer software.
A longer cable could potentially be arranged by ordering directly from MarineSitu, Blue Robotics is shipping it with the standard 1m cable. We’ve not tested with longer lengths, but I see no reason it wouldn’t work with a longer cable - to a point of course, and depending on wire gauge and spec. It is fairly easy to extend the cable yourself with a splice kit.. Using Fathom tether I’d guess you could easily do 15-25m, but from there you may need actual Cat-5 / Cat-6 rated cable to both carry sufficient power, and standard ethernet signals. With sufficient copper to carry power, I’d guess up to 100m could be achieved without too much struggle? What length are you shooting for, and can you share more info on your application?
For more detailed information and links, always checkout the technical details and guides on the product page!