e-con Systems Launches Capella, the World's first Embedded StereoVision Camera Reference Design for TI OMAP/DM37x processors

The Capella reference design comes with a Software Development Kit with full source code for application development on top of V4L2 or OpenCV, enabling customers to develop their own StereoVision Camera based applications. e-conSystems also provides sample applications with source, for applications such as synchronous stereo image capture, depth measurement etc.

“TI is excited to see innovative solutions for the emerging Stereo Vision market from its valued ecosystem partners like e-con Systems. With increasing, and more complex, demands for image processing applications like e-con Systems’ Capella, there is a need for highly efficient processors that can deliver advanced user interface, improved graphics and video processing capabilities,” said Praveen K Ganapathy, Director, Business Development, Texas Instruments. “Texas Instruments’ OMAPTM/DM37x family of processors is designed to provide a scalable, high-performance ultra-low power platform that absolutely delivers the experience users expect.”

The Capella reference design targets product companies keen to integrate Stereo Vision in their product design featuring:

-3Danalytical applications such as machine vision, mobile robotics (obstacle detection) and automotive applications including computer aided navigation anddriver guidance.
-3Dobject reconstruction applications such as reconstructing 3D details of sculptures, monuments, human faces etc.
-3D video recording and playback
-2D synchronous dual-camera applications where, two simultaneously captured images of same (or different) objects are required.

“Being one of the leading suppliers of embedded camera solutions, we have many requests from customers who want to integrate pixel synchronous stereo vision into their products. These customers have a variety of application requirements other than showing the traditional disparity map and many of them use Gumstix® Overo® COMs as their processing system. With the Capella reference design, e-con Systems precisely addresses these requirements and also allows customers to implement traditional stereo camera applications such as disparity mapping, human tracking and gesture detection by implementing their own algorithms on top of our Stereo Camera reference design,” said Mr.Ashok Babu, President, e-con Systems.

“The Stereo Camera reference design can also be customized to interface with other TI OMAP35x/DM37x implementations. Baseline, lens can also be customized to suit customer’s specific requirements,” added Mr.Ashok Babu.

Capella runs Linux 2.6.35 and has Ethernet, HDMI Video port, USB OTG port, and a serial interface for Linux console. The Stereo Camera Engine driver is V4L2 compatible and is available with an OpenCV interface patch allowing customers to develop applications based on plain V4L2 API or the OpenCV stack. The Stereo Engine driver exposes three V4L2 interfaces to the application developers to capture the left, right and combined left+right video streams. The SDK contains sample applications using both the V4L2 interface and also OpenCV stack.

The e-CAM_9V024_STEREO is powered by a pair of1/3” Global Shutter Monochrome Aptina CMOS image sensor MT9V024, with an active area of WVGA 752(H) x 480(V) (360690 pixels) and capability of delivering Synchronous Parallel 736(H)x480(V) Monochrome video of 8-bpp gray scale images at 30fps.The cameras come with pre-aligned and pre-calibrated M12 lenses on an S-mount lens holder and customers can select and calibrate the lens for specific requirements. The two cameras are separated by a distance of 100mm(the baseline). This baseline allows accurate measurement to a depth of three meters. Customers interested in increasing the baseline or changing the lenses can approach e-con Systems’ for customization.