TrollBot

Livestream the video of a raspberry pi to a webserver (nodejs), which users can connect to, and control a pan-tilt combo of servos to control the rpi camera and laser pointer.

Also see my blogpost on this project.

The order is:

Installation

Requires ffmpeg, vl4-utils, nodejs, npm, pigpio, RPi.GPIO

• git clone https://github.com/thaije/TrollBot.git
• cd TrollBot/video-streaming
• npm init
• npm install ws
• cd ../webapp
• npm init
• npm install socket.io express

How to run

First connect all hardware as defined in the Hardware section.
Then startup the Raspberrypi and execute the following commands in the terminal:

• Terminal tab 1:

  • cd video-streaming
  • node websocket-relay yoursecret 8081 8082

• Terminal tab 2:

  • Setting for raspberry camera v2 module:
    • sudo modprobe bcm2835-v4l2
      • ffmpeg -s 640x480 -f video4linux2 -i /dev/video0 -f mpeg1video -b 800k -r 30 http://localhost:8081/yoursecret
    • ctrl - C
    • ffmpeg -i /dev/video0 -vf "vflip,hflip" -f mpegts -codec:v mpeg1video -bf 0 -s 640x480 -r 30 -b 800k http://localhost:8081/yoursecret
  • Setting for other cameras (e.g. PS Eye)
    • ffmpeg -i /dev/video0 -f mpegts -codec:v mpeg1video -bf 0 -s 640x480 -r 30 http://localhost:8081/yoursecret
  • Other possible settings:
    • -s 1920x1080 -r 30
    • -s 1280x720 -r 60

• Terminal tab 3:

  • sudo pigpiod
  • cd rpi-control
  • python3 control.py

• Terminal tab 4:

  • cd webapp
  • node server

• Browser tab:

  • http://localhost:5000/
  • On other devices connected to the same network, replace localhost with ip (ifconfig) of rpi

Hardware

Requirements:

• Raspberry PI (tested with 3b+)
• Camera. I used Raspberry PI camera v2, but also tested with PS Eye camera.
• Laser pointer. I used this one.
• 2 servos. I used 2 HItec HS-422 servos.
• 6v accu pack for the servos.
• pan-tilt set for servos. I used this pan-tilt set.
• The RPI camera and laser pointer were mounted on the bracket.

Wiring:

Servo 1: (vertical servo)

• Black: Ground pinout board
• Red: 6v on pinout board
• Yellow: BCM pin 13

Servo 2: (horizontal servo)

• Black: Ground pinout board
• Red: 6v on pinout board
• Yellow: BCM pin 18

6v accu pack

• Black: Ground pinout board
• Red: 6v on pinout board
• Ground pinout board: ground rpi

laser

• black: ground rpi
• red: BM pin 4