WSJ: Dell Venue 8 7000 Android tablet is the first product on the US market featuring Intel R200 RealSense 3D depth camera:
Ambarella Presents 4K Camera SoC
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Business Wire: Ambarella introduces H1 camera SoC for sports and quadcopter cameras (flying cameras). H1 supports 4K H.264 video encoding at 60fps and 4K H.265/HEVC standard at up to 30fps. H1 features a new generation of ISP with HDR processing, EIS, and a hardware de-warping engine supporting 360-degree panoramic cameras. In addition to 4K Ultra HD encoding, it also supports 1440p (QHD) video at 120 frames per second and 1080p video at 240 frames per second, for smooth slow-motion playback.
“The adoption of 4K Ultra HD video has been accelerating across consumer electronics markets,” said Fermi Wang, President and CEO of Ambarella. “The Ambarella H1 will enable a new generation of sports and flying cameras with high frame rate Ultra HD video, bringing professional-quality film making to the consumer.”
“The adoption of 4K Ultra HD video has been accelerating across consumer electronics markets,” said Fermi Wang, President and CEO of Ambarella. “The Ambarella H1 will enable a new generation of sports and flying cameras with high frame rate Ultra HD video, bringing professional-quality film making to the consumer.”
AAC and Jabil are Pelican Imaging' Manufacturing Partners
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AAC Technologies and Pelican Imaging announce that AAC Technologies is the chosen lens supplier for Pelican’s latest array camera module. The array camera, manufactured by Jabil, Inc., is slated for inclusion in an upcoming reference design that allows very accurate near-field and far-field depth acquisition. Pelican’s unique, flexible array camera solution provides depth when used as a standalone camera, or when used as a depth sensor in conjunction with a traditional camera.
Jack Duan, COO at AAC Technologies, noted, “We foresee strong demand for high-quality array lenses in the next wave of mobile devices. AAC Technologies is quite pleased to be partnering with Pelican Imaging on their latest array camera module as this offers AAC a great opportunity to be at the forefront of innovation in mobile imaging.”
Pelican Imaging and Jabil Circuit, Inc., announce that the companies are collaborating to produce a high-resolution array camera module for inclusion in a reference design that allows accurate depth acquisition. The new Jabil camera module, based on Pelican’s array camera architecture, is expected to be broadly available in Q2 2015.
Irvin Stein, Business Unit Director of Jabil’s Embedded Camera Group, noted “We believe that array cameras are a key segment of the embedded camera market and will experience significant growth…we’re looking forward to fulfilling the demand for this from Jabil’s customers worldwide.”
Jack Duan, COO at AAC Technologies, noted, “We foresee strong demand for high-quality array lenses in the next wave of mobile devices. AAC Technologies is quite pleased to be partnering with Pelican Imaging on their latest array camera module as this offers AAC a great opportunity to be at the forefront of innovation in mobile imaging.”
Pelican Imaging and Jabil Circuit, Inc., announce that the companies are collaborating to produce a high-resolution array camera module for inclusion in a reference design that allows accurate depth acquisition. The new Jabil camera module, based on Pelican’s array camera architecture, is expected to be broadly available in Q2 2015.
Irvin Stein, Business Unit Director of Jabil’s Embedded Camera Group, noted “We believe that array cameras are a key segment of the embedded camera market and will experience significant growth…we’re looking forward to fulfilling the demand for this from Jabil’s customers worldwide.”
Omnivision Presents New Customers, Software
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PR Newswire: OmniVision announces that the world's first 100% wireless HD security camera developed by NETGEAR will be using OmniVision's video recording and processing chipset. "By using OmniVision's OV9712 image sensor and OV788 video processor, the Arlo camera delivers crystal clear HD image quality, power efficiency and superior 'instant on' video recording. OmniVision's leadership in advanced digital imaging solutions makes them a natural fit for NETGEAR's smart home innovations," said Erich Volkert, senior director of product management for NETGEAR.
PR Newswire: OmniVision and Ring, producer of the battery-operated, wireless, video doorbell, announce that OmniVision's low-power consumption OV9712 image sensor and OV788 video processor are used for HD video recording and streaming in the new Ring Video Doorbell. The OV788's ultra-low power consumption also helps extend Ring's battery life to up to 14 months. "Through OmniVision's three-year partnership with Ring, we've witnessed how Ring has taken bold steps to create the revolutionary device you see today," said Sam Huang, VP of design engineering at OmniVision. "We greatly value our relationship with Ring, and pride ourselves in being the 'eyes' for products that truly redefine their categories."
PR Newswire: OmniVision announces that it is collaborating with Inuitive Ltd. to develop a reference design for building 3D imaging modules for consumer electronics. OmniVision's family of computer vision-optimized sensors and Inuitive's NU3000 ASIC, a 3D imaging and computer vision processor, are capable of bringing a host of advanced features for a wide range of consumer devices, including smartphones, tablets, notebooks, smart TVs, and wearable devices.
"We are proud to partner with OmniVision to develop a new line of 3D cameras that enable advanced features such as augmented reality, 3D scanning, post processing photography, natural user interface and more," said Shlomo Gadot, co-founder & CEO at Inuitive. "In our view, the levels of performance and flexibility that these solutions offer make them among the most competitive on the market for OEMs looking to integrate 3D capabilities with their products." The new line of 3D cameras will utilize OmniVision's OV7251 global shutter image sensor or the quad high definition OV4688 image sensor.
PR Newswire: OmniVision announces the immediate availability of an OpenCL optimized imaging algorithm library ideally suited for ARM Mali GPUs. The library includes advanced imaging features such as 3D noise suppression, chroma noise reduction, de-fringe and de-haze and is targeted at smartphones, tablets and notebooks.
"Through our close collaboration with ARM, we have developed imaging solutions that make effective use of the heterogeneous architecture of next generation application processors containing GPU Compute capable GPUs such as the ARM Mali GPU family," said Johnson Shan, VP of Software Algorithm Engineering at OmniVision. "The new algorithm library dramatically reduces execution time and power consumption, resulting in an enhanced user experience and extended battery life."
Update: PR Newswire: OmniVision announces that its OV7251 global shutter image sensor has been selected by Mantis Vision as one of the sensors intended for its next-generation 3D camera reference design, as part of its MV4D technology platform for mobile devices. OmniVision's OV7251, a VGA image sensor with global shutter capabilities, will facilitate accurate 3D imaging and content creation for the MV4D technology platform.
"By developing our 3D mobile camera using OmniVision's OV7251 sensor, Mantis Vision's MV4D technology platform has taken a leap forward in meeting the demands of our partners with daylight operability, sub-mm data accuracies, and slim form-factor compatibility," said Gur Arie Bittan, CTO of Mantis Vision. "With OmniVision's support, we expect the new camera reference design to be available for mobile OEM's in mid-2015."
PR Newswire: OmniVision and Ring, producer of the battery-operated, wireless, video doorbell, announce that OmniVision's low-power consumption OV9712 image sensor and OV788 video processor are used for HD video recording and streaming in the new Ring Video Doorbell. The OV788's ultra-low power consumption also helps extend Ring's battery life to up to 14 months. "Through OmniVision's three-year partnership with Ring, we've witnessed how Ring has taken bold steps to create the revolutionary device you see today," said Sam Huang, VP of design engineering at OmniVision. "We greatly value our relationship with Ring, and pride ourselves in being the 'eyes' for products that truly redefine their categories."
PR Newswire: OmniVision announces that it is collaborating with Inuitive Ltd. to develop a reference design for building 3D imaging modules for consumer electronics. OmniVision's family of computer vision-optimized sensors and Inuitive's NU3000 ASIC, a 3D imaging and computer vision processor, are capable of bringing a host of advanced features for a wide range of consumer devices, including smartphones, tablets, notebooks, smart TVs, and wearable devices.
"We are proud to partner with OmniVision to develop a new line of 3D cameras that enable advanced features such as augmented reality, 3D scanning, post processing photography, natural user interface and more," said Shlomo Gadot, co-founder & CEO at Inuitive. "In our view, the levels of performance and flexibility that these solutions offer make them among the most competitive on the market for OEMs looking to integrate 3D capabilities with their products." The new line of 3D cameras will utilize OmniVision's OV7251 global shutter image sensor or the quad high definition OV4688 image sensor.
 |
| Inuitive Camera |
 |
| Inuitive ASIC |
PR Newswire: OmniVision announces the immediate availability of an OpenCL optimized imaging algorithm library ideally suited for ARM Mali GPUs. The library includes advanced imaging features such as 3D noise suppression, chroma noise reduction, de-fringe and de-haze and is targeted at smartphones, tablets and notebooks.
"Through our close collaboration with ARM, we have developed imaging solutions that make effective use of the heterogeneous architecture of next generation application processors containing GPU Compute capable GPUs such as the ARM Mali GPU family," said Johnson Shan, VP of Software Algorithm Engineering at OmniVision. "The new algorithm library dramatically reduces execution time and power consumption, resulting in an enhanced user experience and extended battery life."
Update: PR Newswire: OmniVision announces that its OV7251 global shutter image sensor has been selected by Mantis Vision as one of the sensors intended for its next-generation 3D camera reference design, as part of its MV4D technology platform for mobile devices. OmniVision's OV7251, a VGA image sensor with global shutter capabilities, will facilitate accurate 3D imaging and content creation for the MV4D technology platform.
"By developing our 3D mobile camera using OmniVision's OV7251 sensor, Mantis Vision's MV4D technology platform has taken a leap forward in meeting the demands of our partners with daylight operability, sub-mm data accuracies, and slim form-factor compatibility," said Gur Arie Bittan, CTO of Mantis Vision. "With OmniVision's support, we expect the new camera reference design to be available for mobile OEM's in mid-2015."
ROTEX Pneumatic Valve Actuator Introduction
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Here is a movie/slideshow introducing the ROTEX family of pneumatic valve actuators. The movie includes the ECV "Infinity line of rack and pinion actuators, the DRS scotch yoke series and the DRC and DRV large scale rack and pinion series.
Unique design and high performance features are explained and pictures of automated valve packages are included.
Unique design and high performance features are explained and pictures of automated valve packages are included.
On Semi-Aptina Announces 13MP/30fps Sensor, Stacking Technology
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Business Wire: – ON Semiconductor (Aptina) has successfully characterized and demonstrated its first fully-functional stacked CMOS sensor featuring a smaller die footprint, higher pixel performance and better power consumption compared to traditional monolithic non-stacked designs. The technology has been successfully implemented and characterized on a test chip with 1.1µm pixels and will be introduced in a product later this year.
“3D stacking technology is an exciting breakthrough that enhances our ability to optimize ON Semiconductor’s future sensors,” said Sandor Barna, VP of Technology for ON Semiconductor’s Image Sensor Group. “This technology provides manufacturing and design flexibility to ensure continued performance leadership across our entire sensor product portfolio.”
Business Wire: On Semiconductor (Aptina) announces 13MP/30fps AR1335 sensor based on advanced 1.1µm pixel featuring a dramatic increase in QE and linear full well capacity. On Semi's CFA processing is sait to have increased the sensitivity by nearly 20% compared to the previous generation. The sensor delivers 4K video and Cinema formats at 30fps and 1080P at 60fps. The high 32-degree CRA supports low z-height applications for smartphones.
“The AR1335 image sensor comes from an intersection of engineering innovation and customer focus,” said Shung Chieh, VP of Consumer Imaging for ON Semiconductor’s Image Sensor Group. “Technology improvements, coupled with smart design and optimized production processes, result in a cost effective solution for smartphone manufactures who wish to deliver a full, rich camera experience in their devices.”
The AR1335 is in mass production in die format and has been designed into several smartphone models with availability in leading phones expected by Q2 2015.
“3D stacking technology is an exciting breakthrough that enhances our ability to optimize ON Semiconductor’s future sensors,” said Sandor Barna, VP of Technology for ON Semiconductor’s Image Sensor Group. “This technology provides manufacturing and design flexibility to ensure continued performance leadership across our entire sensor product portfolio.”
Business Wire: On Semiconductor (Aptina) announces 13MP/30fps AR1335 sensor based on advanced 1.1µm pixel featuring a dramatic increase in QE and linear full well capacity. On Semi's CFA processing is sait to have increased the sensitivity by nearly 20% compared to the previous generation. The sensor delivers 4K video and Cinema formats at 30fps and 1080P at 60fps. The high 32-degree CRA supports low z-height applications for smartphones.
“The AR1335 image sensor comes from an intersection of engineering innovation and customer focus,” said Shung Chieh, VP of Consumer Imaging for ON Semiconductor’s Image Sensor Group. “Technology improvements, coupled with smart design and optimized production processes, result in a cost effective solution for smartphone manufactures who wish to deliver a full, rich camera experience in their devices.”
The AR1335 is in mass production in die format and has been designed into several smartphone models with availability in leading phones expected by Q2 2015.
Will 2015 Be The Year Commercial Drones Take Off?
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If you had been in Boulder City, Nevada last December 19, you would have found Governor Brian Sandoval, a U. S. senator, U. S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials, and representatives of a company that manufactures the Magpie, an unmanned aircraft, all gathered to watch the first official test flight at one of six new test facilities the FAA has established to explore how "unmanned aircraft systems" (UASs for short) can safely use the same airspace that is now occupied by manned aircraft. A video of the test flight shows a man holding what looks like a large model plane. At a signal, he heaves it into the air. It flies about twenty feet and nose-dives into the gravel, bending its nose propeller and eliciting a groan from the crowd.
It wasn't exactly an auspicious start to a program that the FAA has undertaken to fast-track new regulations that will accommodate the increasing pressure on the agency to allow legal commercial use of UASs, commonly called drones, far beyond what present regulations permit. But at least nobody was hurt, except maybe in the pride department. As I noted in this space over a year ago, experimental drones can be deadly—a large one went amok in South Korea in 2013 and killed an engineer.
What we are seeing in commercial drone development is a pattern that has played out repeatedly in one form or another whenever a potentially profitable technology outpaces the ability of a regulatory agency to adapt to it. True to its generally good reputation among government agencies, the FAA is trying to catch up to the rapid advances in commercial drone technology. But if history is any guide, we are in for some stirring times first.
Something similar happened when advances in radio technology during World War I led to the explosion of radio broadcasting stations in the early 1920s. The creaky regulatory mechanism of the time stated that the Department of Commerce, which was charged with the task of regulating the new medium, could not deny licenses to any qualified applicant. As a result, the airwaves got so crowded that in some locations radios were practically unusable. Congress eventually acted, first by establishing the Federal Radio Commission in 1927, and then following it with the Federal Communications Commission in 1934, under whose ministrations we still operate today.
Fortunately, the FAA is already up and running, so the situation is not as wild-westish as it could be. The main issue facing the agency is not lack of regulatory authority—it has plenty of that—but the question of how to allow drones into the air in a way that both allows innovative commercial uses and preserves the exemplary safety record of U. S. air flights that has been achieved in recent years. The experimental test sites the FAA has set up (besides Nevada, there are locations in Alaska, New York, North Dakota, Texas, and Virginia) can play a critical role in both uncovering unknown potential problems and in finding practical solutions to them.
Just as radio benefited from wartime technology advances, commercial drones benefit from the longer history and huge development effort that has gone into military drones. In addition, advances in high-density batteries, software, and navigational aids such as GPS systems make it technically possible for drones to travel long distances autonomously. However, the FAA is still uncomfortable with that.
The way things stand now, there are three classifications of drone regulations. The only one that doesn't require the operator to obtain special permission is the hobby and recreational class, which has applied to operators of model aircraft for decades. If you are a researcher, drone developer, or someone who has other good reasons to do not-for-pay work with drones, you can apply for a "civil UAS" permit. Law enforcement agencies and other public organizations can obtain Certificates of Waiver or Authorization to conduct operations relating to their work. But before the likes of Jeff Bezos can start delivering Amazon orders via drone, the rules—and maybe the technology too—will have to change.
I'm going to go out on a limb here, but the start of a new year is a good time for making predictions, and if the following pans out, you heard it here first. Let it be understood at the outset that I think the following would be a bad idea. But that doesn't mean that somebody won't try it. In 1982, a guy with more bravado than sense named Larry Walters tied a few dozen helium balloons to a lawn chair and floated over Long Beach until his balloons got tangled in a power line and he made it safely back to the ground. I don't know what the payload capability of current small quadcopter-like drones is, but at some point, somebody will have the idea of ganging a bunch of them together to lift the weight of a small person. This would be more of a stunt than a practical way of transporting people, but if the machines get cheap and powerful enough, it will happen.
Of course, the FAA would disapprove of such a thing, and rightly so. But if we do start seeing small packages being delivered by drones, it will happen only if the FAA and industrial interests figure out how to have all that air traffic moving safely and keeping out of the way of buildings, power lines, and giraffes, for that matter. And if that infrastructure problem is solved, and battery technology advances to the point that you could safely build a helicopter-like backpack that was totally under software control, maybe we could see the day when people could literally fly to work. Unless it rains, of course.
Sources: The FAA's overall UAS website is https://www.faa.gov/uas/, and their site stating the rules for hobby and recreational model-airplane flying is http://www.faa.gov/uas/publications/model_aircraft_operators/. I referred to a report on the Nevada test flight of Magpie carried by Gizmodo at http://gizmodo.com/first-drone-launches-at-faa-test-site-in-nevada-crashe-1673586255. The six FAA UAS test locations are given at http://gizmodo.com/federal-drone-testing-is-coming-to-these-6-scenic-locat-1491708151. Business Insider was the source of the commercial drone market estimate at http://www.businessinsider.com/the-market-for-commercial-drones-2014-2. My blog "Drones, Air Safety, and the FAA" appeared on Nov. 4, 2013.
Graduate Piping Engineers - Thailand
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Graduate Piping Engineers - Thailand Work Location :TH-Chonburi, Bangkok Position Category : Piping Engineering Requisition ID :2014-4177 Amec Foster Wheeler Hiring Entity Foster Wheeler (Thailand) Limited More information about this vacancy Overview Foster Wheeler has an opportunity for a Graduate Piping Engineer. There is an increased thrust to deliver our services for the growing
Sr. Piping Specifications Engineer – Japan (AMEC Foster Wheeler)
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Sr. Piping Specification Engineer (PMC) - Yokohama, Japan Overview Amec Foster Wheeler currently has an overseas assignment opportunity for Senior Piping Specification Engineer - from January 2015 for a role in Yokohama, Japan. The assignment will involve working in the EPC Contractor's office in a PMC role, and you will be responsible as senior engineer- piping specifications with the
Raspberry PI CarPC January 2015 updates
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Hi,
Here are the updates I have recently worked on:
- migration to KODI stable 14.0
- Raspbian OS from 24 december 2013
- linux kernel 3.18.1 with touchscreen drivers
- updates to Radio and Navigation addons
You can install the build using the tutorial link on the right side of the blog. Please don't forget about the forum for any comments.
Enjoy the screenshots and Happy new Year!
Hi,
Here are the updates I have recently worked on:
- migration to KODI stable 14.0
- Raspbian OS from 24 december 2013
- linux kernel 3.18.1 with touchscreen drivers
- updates to Radio and Navigation addons
You can install the build using the tutorial link on the right side of the blog. Please don't forget about the forum for any comments.
Enjoy the screenshots and Happy new Year!
Algorithms and Organization of High Performance Image Processing
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MIT has published a PhD thesis "Decoupling Algorithms from the Organization of Computation for High Performance Image Processing" by Jonathan Ragan-Kelley devoted mainly to Halide language and compiler. The thesis applies Halide for optimization of trade-offs between parallelism, locality, and the total amount of computation. One of the basic statements is that moving data in a processing system consumes the major power:
Toward 1Gfps: Evolution of Ultra-high-speed Image Sensors
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Delft University publishes IEDM 2014 review paper "Toward 1Gfps: Evolution of Ultra-high-speed Image Sensors -ISIS, BSI, Multi-Collection Gates, and 3D-stacking" by T. G. Etoh, V. T. S. Dao, K. Shimonomura, E. Charbon, C. Zhang, Y. Kamakura, and T. Matsuoka. The new paper is an extended and updated version of the previously published open-access review.
RaspberryPI CarPC tutorial
...
1. Installation process(fresh install):
- write a fresh image with the latest RaspbianOS image from http://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/
- copy the carpc folder in /home/pi/ on the SD card(get the latest release archive from my Downloads page/updates)
- plug the image in RPI, connect an USB keyboard and start it
--- use the auto menu to expand file system
--- change user password
--- enable ssh, disable overscan, disable serial messages
--- change Internalisation Options -> Locale and Timezone to your country
--- expand disk size to at least 4GB
--- enable Boot to Console(mandatory)
- restart
- type cd /home/pi/carpc/ and then ./carpc-install.sh and then wait for the system to install
- after this, you should reboot(sudo reboot) and the system should start
2. Calibrate the touch screen
Forget about xinput-calibrator and X11 calibration metods.
If you have calibration file(/home/pi/touchscreen_axes_calib) from a previous installation you can use it(put it in /home/pi/).
If you don't, then use the touch screen calibration plugin. This plugin works if you set correctly the Raspberry PI resolution in /boot/config.txt. Follow the steps in this video.
3. Add a map for navigation
Go to Navit Planet Extractor and download a .bin file for your area.
Copy the .bin file in your RPI card in /home/pi/.navit/ folder. Rename the .bin file to map1.bin.
4. Setup the GPS receiver
Open the file /home/pi/startup/StartCarPC and find the line gpsd /dev/ttyAMA0
Replace /dev/ttyAMA0 with your gps device file name. Here is how to find the file name:
1. For USB devices. After plugging the device into the usb port type dmesg and you should see somewhere that a new device was mapped on /dev/tty... Most probably the file name would be /dev/ttyACM0.
2. For Serial(UART) modules, using UART TX/RX pins the device will have the file name /dev/ttyAMA0.
You can test that the device is connected to a file name by calling cat /dev/ttyAMA0, for example and you should see some NMEA output.
5. Voice configuration for Navit
Each time a road indication has to be made, Navit will execute the file /home/pi/.navit/speech.sh with the indication text. This file will play a sound and the speak the indication, through speakers.
aplay -r 44100 /home/pi/.navit/notification3.wav & sleep 0.7 && espeak -ven+f4 -s150 -a 150 -p 50 "$1" --stdout | aplay
/home/pi/.navit/notification3.wav - the sound that will be played each time before an indication
-ven+f4 - female voice number 4
-s150 - speed 150 words per minute
-a150 - amplitude
-p50 - pitch
You can find more settings in the espeak manual
If you don't want the voice guidance you can press the speaker button in Navit and it will be turned off.
6. Add FM Radio module, physical buttons or physical rotary encoders
Here is my hardware schematic containing:
- SV1 - Raspberry PI B, B+ connector
- RADIO - SI4703 breakout board
- RE1 and RE2 - two rotary encoders
Each function of push buttons, rotary encoders can be configured using the Controller, like in the step below.
7. Configure the Controller
Modify the configuration file(/home/pi/config/gpio_description) like in this post.
8. Set the car logo in the Home screen
Put your car logo .png image in /home/pi/config/logo.png.
9. Skin
Thanks to Doru we have CarPC-touch_carbon.
10. Issues
The forum is available for any issues/suggestions.
Have fun!
Andrei
1. Installation process(fresh install):
- write a fresh image with the latest RaspbianOS image from http://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/
- copy the carpc folder in /home/pi/ on the SD card(get the latest release archive from my Downloads page/updates)
- plug the image in RPI, connect an USB keyboard and start it
--- use the auto menu to expand file system
--- change user password
--- enable ssh, disable overscan, disable serial messages
--- change Internalisation Options -> Locale and Timezone to your country
--- expand disk size to at least 4GB
--- enable Boot to Console(mandatory)
- restart
- type cd /home/pi/carpc/ and then ./carpc-install.sh and then wait for the system to install
- after this, you should reboot(sudo reboot) and the system should start
2. Calibrate the touch screen
Forget about xinput-calibrator and X11 calibration metods.
If you have calibration file(/home/pi/touchscreen_axes_calib) from a previous installation you can use it(put it in /home/pi/).
If you don't, then use the touch screen calibration plugin. This plugin works if you set correctly the Raspberry PI resolution in /boot/config.txt. Follow the steps in this video.
3. Add a map for navigation
Go to Navit Planet Extractor and download a .bin file for your area.
Copy the .bin file in your RPI card in /home/pi/.navit/ folder. Rename the .bin file to map1.bin.
4. Setup the GPS receiver
Open the file /home/pi/startup/StartCarPC and find the line gpsd /dev/ttyAMA0
Replace /dev/ttyAMA0 with your gps device file name. Here is how to find the file name:
1. For USB devices. After plugging the device into the usb port type dmesg and you should see somewhere that a new device was mapped on /dev/tty... Most probably the file name would be /dev/ttyACM0.
2. For Serial(UART) modules, using UART TX/RX pins the device will have the file name /dev/ttyAMA0.
You can test that the device is connected to a file name by calling cat /dev/ttyAMA0, for example and you should see some NMEA output.
5. Voice configuration for Navit
Each time a road indication has to be made, Navit will execute the file /home/pi/.navit/speech.sh with the indication text. This file will play a sound and the speak the indication, through speakers.
aplay -r 44100 /home/pi/.navit/notification3.wav & sleep 0.7 && espeak -ven+f4 -s150 -a 150 -p 50 "$1" --stdout | aplay
/home/pi/.navit/notification3.wav - the sound that will be played each time before an indication
-ven+f4 - female voice number 4
-s150 - speed 150 words per minute
-a150 - amplitude
-p50 - pitch
You can find more settings in the espeak manual
If you don't want the voice guidance you can press the speaker button in Navit and it will be turned off.
6. Add FM Radio module, physical buttons or physical rotary encoders
Here is my hardware schematic containing:
- SV1 - Raspberry PI B, B+ connector
- RADIO - SI4703 breakout board
- RE1 and RE2 - two rotary encoders
 | |
| CarPC hardware set-up example |
7. Configure the Controller
Modify the configuration file(/home/pi/config/gpio_description) like in this post.
8. Set the car logo in the Home screen
Put your car logo .png image in /home/pi/config/logo.png.
9. Skin
Thanks to Doru we have CarPC-touch_carbon.
10. Issues
The forum is available for any issues/suggestions.
Have fun!
Andrei
Strong winds threaten to push sea ice out of Arctic Ocean
...
By Albert Kallio
The lateral viscosity of the thin Arctic sea ice cover continues to lower. In November just one quarter of the high Arctic Ocean basin above 85° north was covered by a thin this winter's ice. This has now doubled, soon covering two quarters. The ice has been pushed away from Russia towards Canada and to the Fram Strait at phenomenal rates.
This is increasingly suggesting that the remaining half in front of the Fram Strait will be sucked into the Atlantic Ocean soon. The dark blue ice is newly formed crushed ice behind the North Pole (pack ice). We may well be in course to the first recorded ice free season in the Arctic Ocean. In addition, the rear is pushed from behind Canada to the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas.
We need to act, now. I think we need to monitor this development almost on daily basis. I am curious to see how the ice may behave after the last remainders of the second quarter are sucked into the Atlantic Ocean and the newly forming sea ice will face the force of the Atlantic waves. That could mean extremely highly fractured sea ice across the Russian side by the return of spring 2015 sunlight.
I think we are witnessing a historic transition right now with no ice in the summers.
The lateral viscosity of the thin Arctic sea ice cover continues to lower. In November just one quarter of the high Arctic Ocean basin above 85° north was covered by a thin this winter's ice. This has now doubled, soon covering two quarters. The ice has been pushed away from Russia towards Canada and to the Fram Strait at phenomenal rates.
 |
| Animation by navy.mil showing 30 days of sea ice thickness, up to January 1, 2015 |
 |
| Animation by navy.mil showing 30 days of sea ice speed and drift, up to January 1, 2015 |
We need to act, now. I think we need to monitor this development almost on daily basis. I am curious to see how the ice may behave after the last remainders of the second quarter are sucked into the Atlantic Ocean and the newly forming sea ice will face the force of the Atlantic waves. That could mean extremely highly fractured sea ice across the Russian side by the return of spring 2015 sunlight.
I think we are witnessing a historic transition right now with no ice in the summers.
Post by Sam Carana.
Gestigon to Present Automotive Gesture Control
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Gestigon, a provider of 3D depth map-based software for skeleton tracking and gesture control for consumer and automotive markets, is going to present its automotive gesture control concepts at CES next week. The company's Youtube video shows some of the ideas:
Omnivision Applies for Silicon Color Microlens Array Patent
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Omnivision patent application US20140374862 "CMOS image sensor with integrated silicon color filters" by Chiaying Liu, Keh-chiang Ku, Dyson Hsinchih Tai, and Wuzhang Yang presents a silicon color filter 170, 172 combined with SiO2 microlens 155:
