🤖 Stereo Vision: Making a Depth Map from scratch

Imagine you need to create an environmental garbage-collection robot. However, you do not want to invest heavily in LiDAR technology to determine how far the trash is. This is where Stereo Vision comes into play.

Using two regular pin-hole cameras to not only detect depth but also use the same camera for other Machine Learning tasks can be a huge cost-saving factor.

This project is a great way for beginners to step into the field of not just Computer Vision but Computer Science as a whole, picking up skills in Python and OpenCV.

To begin on this project, you'll need a few essentials:
▫️ Jetson Nano Developer Kit B01
▫️ Two Raspberry Pi cameras
▫️ Interest!

More information:
Part 1: Introduction
Part 2: Depth Map
Part 3: Adding Object Detection

#articles #robots #machine_learning #python

📷 Arduino Nicla Vision

Arduino Nicla Vision is an ultra-compact (~2.3×2.3 cm) board powered by an STM32H7 dual-core Cortex-M7/M4 microcontroller, and equipped with a 2MP camera, a Wi-Fi & Bluetooth LE module, and a few sensors.

Those features make the board suitable for machine vision and edge computing applications such as asset tracking, image detection, object recognition, and predictive maintenance.

Specifications:
▫️ Microcontrollers: STM32H757AII6 dual-core MCU with Arm Cortex M7 @ 480MHz, Cortex-M4 @ 240MHz, 2 MB flash, 1MB RAM
▫️ Storage: 16MB QSPI flash
▫️ Camera: 2MP GC2145 color camera
▫️ Sensors: 6-axis motion sensor, integrated microphone, and VL53L1 ToF distance sensor
▫️ Connectivity: 2.4GHz WiFi 802.11b/g/n up to 65 Mbps and Bluetooth 5.1 BR/EDR/LE via Murata 1DX module

The Nicla Vision board works with OpenMV, supports the Arduino IDE, Arduino Web, and MicroPython with connectivity to the Arduino Cloud or third-party vendor services.

#news #boards #arduino

📃 Soldering SMDs with Hot Plate Tips

The hotplate method is the easiest soldering method for the hobby electronics enthusiast.

The basic process looks like this:
▫️ Apply Solder Paste to all the SMD pads.
▫️ Place all SMD components in the appropriate place.
▫️ Heat up the entire board to melt the solder and solder all parts simultaneously.
▫️ After the board has cooled, fix any solder bridges.
▫️ Solder in the remaining through-hole parts, if any.

The are a few tips to improve the process:
▫️ If you are doing runs of 5+ boards, you will probably want to make a solder paste stencil.
▫️ If you're good with the solder paste, you can lay a thin line of the paste on the pad, and do that for every pad. This is the recommended way, but it can be tricky.
▫️ If you spend money on any part of your setup, get a good pair of tweezers to place SMDs.
▫️ A solder bridge is when solder connects two pins that are next to each other that are not supposed to be connected. Use desolder braid to remove them.

#articles