Instagif Camera

I built a camera that snaps a GIF and ejects a little cartridge so you can hold a moving photo in your hand! I'm calling it "Instagif". Don't ask me why I built it, it sounded like a fun challenge and I always wanted to hold a moving photo.

Build Process

You can read more about the entire build process here:

Hardware Files

All the 3D print files and Eagle files can be found in a separate repo here: https://github.com/shekit/instagif-hardware

Setting up the Raspberry Pi's:

The camera uses 2 pi's. Follow the steps exactly as described and it should get you up and running without any problems.

• Raspberry Pi 3 - Let's call this CamPi (runs the camera)
• Raspberry Pi Zero W - Let's call this SnapPi (runs the cartridge)

Raspberry Pi 3 - CamPi

1. Download Jessie Lite (2017-07-5) and burn to SD card (class 4 +, 8gb+)

2. Plug into HDMI monitor

3. Login with default user:pi and password: raspberry

4. Perform Initial Setup:

   • sudo raspi-config
     • Advanced Options > Expand Filesystem
     • Change User Password
     • Localisation Options > Locale and Timezone
     • Localisation Options > Keyboard Layout
     • Enable Interfacing > Camera
     • Enable Interfacing > SSH
     • Boot Options > Console > Console Autologin
   • sudo reboot -h now

5. Setup Wifi Network:

   • sudo nano /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf
   • Add your ssid and password

      network={
      	ssid=”<Your ssid>”
      	psk=”<Your pass>”
      }
     

   • sudo reboot -h now
   • Note IP address ifconfig wlan0

6. Check for updates:

   sudo apt-get update
   sudo apt-get upgrade
   

7. Install Re4son kernel

   • Follow the steps here - https://github.com/Re4son/Re4son-Pi-TFT-Setup
   • Rotate screen: sudo nano /boot/config.txt rotate=270

8. Remove existing Node:

   sudo apt-get remove nodered -y
   sudo apt-get remove nodejs nodejs-legacy -y
   sudo apt-get remove npm -y
   

9. Install Latest Node:

   sudo curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_8.x | sudo -E bash -
   sudo apt-get install nodejs -y
   node -v
   npm -v
   

10. Disable Bluetooth:

    sudo systemctl disable bluetooth
    

11. Prevent screen from sleeping:

    • sudo nano /etc/kbd/config
      • BLANK_TIME=0
      • POWERDOWN_TIME=0
    • sudo nano /boot/cmdline.txt
      • Add this to the end of the single line: consoleblank=0

12. Install DHCP:

    • sudo apt-get install isc-dhcp-server
    • sudo nano /etc/dhcp/dhcpd.conf
    • Edit this file and reboot:

    	ddns-update-style interim;
    	default-lease-time 600;
    	max-lease-time 7200;
    	authoritative;
    	log-facility local7;
    	subnet 192.168.1.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 {
    		range 192.168.1.5 192.168.1.150;
    	}
    

13. Setup Ad-hoc Network: *

    	cd /etc/network
    	sudo cp interfaces interfaces-wifi
    	sudo nano interfaces-adhoc
    

    • Edit this interfaces-adhoc file

    	auto lo
    	iface lo inet loopback
    	iface eth0 inet dhcp
    
    	auto wlan0
    	iface wlan0 inet static
    		address 192.168.1.1
    		netmask 255.255.255.0
    		wireless-channel 1
    		wireless-essid  Instagif
    		wireless-mode ad-hoc
    
    

14. To change between interfaces:

    • To use ad-hoc network:
      • sudo cp /etc/network/interfaces-adhoc /etc/network/interfaces
    • TO use regular wifi-network
      • sudo cp /etc/network/interfaces-wifi /etc/network/interfaces

15. Connect to Pi using SSH if needed from your computer:

    • Select Instagif network
    • ssh -lpi 192.168.1.1

16. Install Libraries:

    • Picamera: sudo apt-get install python-picamera
    • MP4Box: sudo apt-get install -y gpac
    • AVConv: sudo apt-get install -y libav-tools
    • Omxplayer(if needed): sudo apt-get install -y omxplayer
    • Pip: sudo apt-get install python-pip
    • Git: sudo apt-get install git
    • Cmake: sudo apt-get install cmake
    • PiGPIO: sudo apt-get install pigpio
    • FBI: sudo apt-get install fbi

17. Install ZeroMQ(python 2.7):

    •   sudo apt-get install libzmq-dev
        sudo apt-get install libevent-dev
        sudo apt-get install python-dev
        sudo pip install pyzmq
        sudo pip install zerorpc
        sudo pip install msgpack-python --force-reinstall --upgrade
      

18. Install FBCP:

    •   git clone https://github.com/tasanakorn/rpi-fbcp
        cd rpi-fbcp/
        mkdir build
        cd build/
        cmake ..
        make
        sudo install fbcp /usr/local/bin/fbcp
        cd ~
        sudo modprobe fbtft dma
      

19. Clone this repo:

    •   git clone https://github.com/shekit/instagif.git
        cd ~/instagif/node-camera
        sudo npm install 
      

20. Create Launcher Script:

    •   cd ~
        sudo nano launch.sh
        	#!/bin/bash
        	fbcp &
        	cd ~/instagif/node-camera
        	python zero.py &
        	sudo node index.js
        chmod +x launch.sh
      

21. Create SystemD file:

    • sudo nano /lib/systemd/system/instagif.service
    • Edit this file to only include:

      •   [Unit]
          Description=Instagif Auto Start
          After=multi-user.target
        
          [Service]
          Type=idle
          ExecStart=/home/pi/launch.sh
          User=pi
        
          [Install]
          WantedBy=multi-user.target
        

    • Change file permissions:
      • sudo chmod 644 /lib/systemd/system/instagif.service
    • Make it start at bootup:
      • sudo systemctl enable instagif.service

Raspberry Pi Zero W - SnapPi

1. Repeat steps 1-8
2. Install Node for Pi Zero:

   •   cd ~
       wget http://nodejs.org/dist/v4.2.4/node-v4.2.4-linux-armv6l.tar.gz
       cd /usr/local
       sudo tar xzvf ~/node-v4.2.4-linux-armv6l.tar.gz --strip=1
       # Test node version with node -v
       sudo npm install -g npm
     

3. Repeat steps 10-14, enter IP 192.168.1.2
4. Install as above:
   • omxplayer
   • cmake
   • git
   • fbcp
   • fbi
5. Clone repo:

   •   git clone https://github.com/shekit/instagif.git
       cd ~/instagif/node-snap
       sudo npm install
     

6. Create Launcher Script:

   •   cd ~
       sudo nano launch.sh
       	#!/bin/bash
       	cd ~/instagif/node-snap
       	node index.js
       chmod +x launch.sh
     

7. Create SystemD file:
   • sudo nano /lib/systemd/system/instagif.service
   • Edit this file to only include:

     •   [Unit]
         Description=Instagif Auto Start
         After=multi-user.target
       
         [Service]
         Type=idle
         ExecStart=/home/pi/launch.sh
         User=pi
       
         [Install]
         WantedBy=multi-user.target
       
       

   • Change file permissions:
     • sudo chmod 644 /lib/systemd/system/instagif.service
   • Make it start at bootup:
     • sudo systemctl enable instagif.service