Camera trigger using Pixfalcon

chrisbrent · September 29, 2016, 11:34pm

Hi,
Add me as someone else looking to do this. Remapping the AUX1 and AUX2 to a spare PWM output on the Pixfalcon would be very useful. I have 8 “motor” outputs but only need 4, that leaves another 4 I could be using for aux servo’s (e.g. landing gear) and/or gimbals. I’m setting up the dev environment to see how this works now.

PixFalcon_Knife270 · December 22, 2016, 2:54am

@LorenzMeier - Would be great if you could write code to a re-map and drive PWM Aux1->4 over to the unused M5-M8 pins for us PixFalcon users ; add a CLI command adv-param to switch these PWM to those Aux maps for Quad. So far don’t know anybody using it for Hex or Octa - Being so small it’s commonly installed in tiny 250mm Quads but we still wish to have mission function outcomes to leverage the PX4 capabilities inside - thanks!

thedoble · January 4, 2017, 2:42am

I agree that being able to selectively map motor outputs and aux outputs to the available ‘motor’ outs would be very useful for driving a gimbal and other ancillaries.

Khemraj · January 8, 2017, 7:41pm

Dear Mr. Lorenz,

I understood that PixFalcon does not have the AUX to trigger a camera.

Can it be patched to achieve so or alternatively use the PicoSwitch Relay (https://www.dimensionengineering.com/products/picoswitch) when using it on an Octacopter?

Thanks and regards

Khemraj

Johannes · February 8, 2017, 2:14pm

Is this still an active topic? I have not been able to find any suggestions or working solutions for mapping the camera trigger signal to a main pwm port. If this has been solved or is in the process, please point me in the right direction

Best Regards
Johannes Friis

Andre_Caccioppoli · February 17, 2017, 6:03am

Did this go anywhere. I’m keen to do autocamera trigger as well

Agdroner · March 8, 2017, 1:55am

Hello! I found a solution to your issue which I recently acquired. Is quite simple actually. If you still have the problem I can help you on making any camera function with pixfalcon.

Cheers!

MarcoP · March 8, 2017, 8:11am

Would you be kind and explain how you went about triggering the camera with a pixfalcon?

I’m only using the Pixfalcon as a camera trigger and a data collector for the logs so for my case, i have all 8 main-out ports available, but no AUX

Thrane · March 8, 2017, 11:50pm

Hi Agdroner.
I would certainly be very interested. Please let us hear more.
Best regards
Jakob Thrane

Agdroner · March 9, 2017, 2:16am

Sure thing!
We are using two cameras:

MAPIR: you just have to make a ground connection to RC channel 7 and activate the trigger function (rc7_function), set your values and there you go.
Canon with CHDK: You will need a switch for a 5V output. You can that the 5V input from the PM cable directly to feed the electronic switch. Also ground the RC channel 7, set values and plug everything.
Hardware Modified Camera: use an electronic switch (I haven’t done this but a friend did it with success).

You just need the signal from RC channel 7 (or any channel) to tell the trigger to do its job. You used this electronic switch.

Hope this helps on your projects.

Thrane · March 9, 2017, 3:20am

Thanks Agdroner.
But are you actually running PX4 software on your Pixfalcon? I Cannot find the “rc7_function” in PX4, its only present in ardupilot.

Difly · December 12, 2017, 5:13pm

Hi Guys, do you have any news about this topic? there is a way to control the gimbal also with the free output?

Oblivion_Aerial · February 26, 2018, 10:45am

Hi guys, I’m also in the same problem, have a ready flying wing with a camera activated by PWM, but no AUX. Please can someone write a code which allow to set the trigger on a MAIN output?

ma_ka · March 18, 2018, 6:54pm

Me too, why is this not possible?

saedanm · March 31, 2018, 7:29am

I hope this thread is still active. As I was trying to use camera trigger via MAVlink message but it seems that Telemetry1 (only one available on pixfalcon) did not give out the message. I can intercept all other message though. So my question is: does camera trigger message only send out on Telemetry2?

If the camera tigger message were broadcast to all telemetry channels, I can then make a small microcontroller to intercept this message and make a trigger signal.

LorenzMeier · April 28, 2018, 1:56pm

Best to use a more recent board like the Pixracer (which is a FMUv4 generation design).

Al_B · June 28, 2018, 10:24pm

@LorenzMeier, I’ve been trying to set up a PixRacer on a ZOHD-Orbit; which is similar to the Z-84. I’m using QGC v3.3.2 and PX4 v1.8.0 stack firmware. I’ve several times competed all sensors, radio calibration, etc.; but every time the Taranis transmitter connects to the D4R-II receiver, QGC reports MANUAL CONTROL LOST messages. I’ve tried both Generic and Z-84 airframe configurations, but same results.

I’m also experiencing issue #8475; which is still open.

skitch · July 4, 2018, 8:34pm

Hi Al,

I’m thinking maybe you are going to get scolded for not starting a new post in the correct category. LOL. Having said that, check your RC IN cable. Happy 4th and God Bless America

Al_B · July 4, 2018, 8:48pm

Hi Mitchell,

I thought about that too so I did here. The MANUAL CONTROL LOST message was related to this issue with the ESP unit. Thanks, and Happy 4th!

Romek_Ligocki · April 8, 2019, 10:31am

I have same but little bit different problem. Currently I am working on HITL simulator, that uses X-Plane link code, that I modified for simulator API. Is it possible to send camera PWM value from configured AUX port to HITL simulation? I am trying to understand camera_trigger.cpp to be able to allow sending signal from camera_trigger.cpp to mixer. Is this good place to modify code to achive my goal?