Elphel Eyesis
Contents
Images
About
Elphel Eyesis is a complete open hardware / free software panoramic camera solution that is able to capture high-resolution - 38 MPix total (45 MPix before stitching) - 360° panoramas at a rate up to 5 frames per second at full resolution. Images are recorded to 3 swappable solid-state-discs (Eyesis Data Storage) which can store up to 11 hours of footage at full resolution. Meta-data like GPS-coordinates (geotags), viewing direction, movement speed, etc. are directly embedded into the images EXIF fields. Eyesis uses 9 sensor-front-ends and high-grade lenses that are triggered simultaneously with microsecond accuracy.
Usage Scenarios
The camera head was designed to be small and lightweight with a minimal distance between the entrance pupils (29.5 mm) to achieve lowest possible parallax.
The primary usage scenario is to mount Eyesis on the roof of a vehicle. When driving at 50 mph (22.3 m/s) and recording at 5 FPS a full panorama is captured every 4.46 meters.
Though the total weight is just around 10 kg (22 lbs.) which also allows back-pack like operation.
Operation & Monitoring
Eyesis is controlled from a laptop, via a web-based interface (Eyesis GUI). Which also displays real-time previews of your captured panorama footage.
Eyesis is supplied with 110V/220V AC and can be used with car power adapter (inverter), when mounted on a car roof. Power consumption is around 50W.
Calibration
The sensor-front-ends - which were especially developed for Eyesis - allow the focus plane to be shifted and rotated with very high accuracy. This allows extremely precise calibration of each lens and SFE which is done with every Eyesis during assembly with custom developed software. Check out this Elphel Development Blog post for more details.
Tech specs
Eyesis Camera
- 8x Color 5Mpix CMOS sensors in array
- 1x Color 5Mpix CMOS sensor pointing upwards
- Resolution - 38MPix (45MPix before stitching)
- Up to 5 FPS at full resolution (45Mpix)
- highly customisable
- Web-based GUI
- GPS powered geo-tagging
- Precise image capture synchronisation
- RAW or compressed image formats
- High resolution lenses: 9x M12 lens mount
- Very small parallax - distance between entrance pupils: 29.5 mm
- Dimensions of camera pole: ~1.4 m x 60 mm
- Dimensions of camera head: 210 x 332 mm
- Weatherproof camera body and camera pole
- Total power consumption: 50W
- Total weight ~10 kg (22 lbs.)
Eyesis Data Storage
- 3x swappable 256GB - 2.5" - SSDs (Total 768GB) in Drivebay
- Enough space for up to 11 hours of full Resolution/FPS footage (depending on quality settings and actual image content)
- GigEthernet Switch
- Weatherproof enclosure
- Dimensions of Data Storage : 280 x 120 x 170 mm
Eyesis Computer
The Eyesis Computer is a high-end-workstation with small form factor. It is intended for image post-processing and not required for recording footage.
It comes with all Elphel developed software and tools required for processing panoramic images preinstalled.
- Small form factor Shuttle PC
- Intel Core i7-950 Quad-Core Processor
- 16 GB DDR3 RAM
- GeForce GTX 465 (Fermi) 1GB
- 2 TB HDD
- Same 2.5" drivebays as Eyesis Data Storage Box to load SSDs
Tech Specs of a Single Image Sensor (Eyesis uses 9 of these)
| Color Image Sensor | 1/2.5" bayer-pattern CMOS |
| Effective number of pixels | 2592x1936 (5,018,112 pixels) |
| Aspect Ratio | Chip 4:3, Region of interest freely adjustable in 16 pixel steps |
| Sensor Output | 12 Bit ADC |
| Sensor Features | Region of interest, on-chip binning and decimation |
| Dynamic Range | 70 db (76 db at 2x2 binning) |
| Electronic Shutter | 1 us to "very long" (~3h) in 1us steps |
| Gain | Analog & Digital (0 db to 12 db continuous) |
Brochure Downloads
Example Footage
Salt Lake City at Night - reduced Resolution
Download Higher Resolution Version
Salt Lake City at Night - reduced Resolution
Download Higher Resolution Version
More examples (Daylight shoots) will follow as soon as the weather is getting better here ;)
Price and Lead-Time
Available now!
| Item |
List Price*, USD |
|---|---|
| Eyesis Camera |
$24,000.00 |
| Eyesis Data Storage |
$5,400.00 |
| Eyesis Computer |
$2,900.00 |
| Eyesis Shipping Case |
$450.00 |
Delivery is 3-4 months after 50% pre-payment.
For quotes and orders check: Elphel Order Page
*GPL discount available, see: Pricing/Discount/Donation Policy
Package Contents
The complete Eyesis kit comes with:
- Pole
- Camera Head:
- 9x Sensor Front Ends (10338 Rev. D)
- 8x Lenses + 1x fisheye lens
- 3x Processor Boards (10353 Rev. E)
- 3x IO Boards (10369 Rev. A)
- 3x Multiplexer Boards (10359 Rev. A)
- Storage Box
- 3 SSDs (3x 256GB = 768GB) in Drivebay
- Gigabit Ethernet Switch
- All required cables
- GPS receiver
- Software to control and monitor Eyesis
- Eyesis Computer for Image Post-Processing (not required for recording)
- Small form factor high-end Shuttle PC with Intel Core i7-950 Quad-Core Processor, 16 GB DDR3 RAM, GeForce GTX 465 (Fermi) 1GB
Training
Eyesis is a very complex piece of hardware, we strongly advise to budget training your staff:
- Initial Eyesis Camera Operation Instruction
- Hardware Operation
- Operating and Monitoring Eyesis Software
- Raw Image Enhancement
provided by Elphel
Not included in the kit
- Power supply (115/220V AC) - Eyesis can be plugged into a wall plug / car power converter
- Computer/Notebook to control/monitor image acquisition (Eyesis GUI)
- Software to stitch panoramas
More Information
Wiki:
Elphel Development Blog:
- “Zoom in. Now… enhance.” – a practical implementation of the aberration measurement and correction in a digital camera
- “Zoom in. Now… enhance.” – Results
- Elphel Eyesis camera optics and lens focus adjustment
- Elphel-Eyesis, assembled
- Elphel-Eyesis Progress
- First Elphel Eyesis Prototype assembled
FAQ
Why are there 3 SSDs and not just a single bigger one?
There are nine sensor-front-ends. There are 3 system boards each connected to 3 sensor-front-ends and one SSD. So the shots of a single panorama are split up one 3 SSDs. 3 images to SSD1, 3 images to SSD2 and 3 images to SSD3.
Can I also use the Eyesis Data Storage with HDDs instead of SSDs?
We initially tested the system with HDDs but due to strong vibrations when using Eyesis mounted to a car roof we experience massive write-rate drops with HDDs. After we switched to SSDs all these problems were gone. If your Eyesis application does not involve bumby roads or vibrations HDDs should work just fine though.
What software do I need on my laptop/computer to control Eyesis?
Eyesis GUI requires a locally running webserver (apache2 + PHP5) and the Eyesis GUI software.
Install Instructions provide packages for Ubuntu and instructions for installation on other operating systems.
How do I connect my laptop/computer to Eyesis and how do I control image recording?
The Eyesis Data Storage Box hosts a Gigabit Ethernet switch so all you need is one Ethernet cable from the Data Storage Box to your laptop/computer.
The Eyesis GUI is completely browser based so after you connected to the network you just start a browser type in the correct URL and you are ready to go.
