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https://github.com/pageauc/panopi

Create pano timelapse images from multiple RPI computers using picamera modules.
https://github.com/pageauc/panopi

imagezmq panorama-stitching python raspberry-pi timelapse-videos

Last synced: 3 months ago
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Create pano timelapse images from multiple RPI computers using picamera modules.

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README 

          
# PANOPI

#### Create panoramic timelapse images from multiple Raspberry Pi computers using picamera modules.



This project uses [imagezmq](https://github.com/jeffbass/imagezmq) to transfer images from multiple panosend RPI's to a single panohub RPI. 

All panosend RPI's are sent a timestamp so all sequence images are taken at the same time. The panhub computer

stores timelapse sequence images in ***media/timelapse*** folder and will then attempt to stitch the images in the sequence.

The next sequence number is saved in a ***panohub.dat*** file. Seqence numbering will start where it left off if panohub.py is

interrupted. Delete this file to restart numbering. If stitching is successful the pano images will be saved in the ***media/pano-images*** folder. 

Images can be viewed using the included webserver. Using a RPI4 for panub, I was able to get three 720p image stitch times of about six seconds.

The stitching program is a modified version of openpano.  For details see my Repo at https://github.com/pageauc/OpenPano



Claude ....



## QUICK INSTALL



### PANOHUB INSTALL

On a raspberry pi computer on your local area network (using zeroconf). Install the panohub software per curl

script below.  Note This does not need a picamera.  You can also choose to install on one of the

panosend RPI's. Stitching takes some time to process so I advise a faster RPI for the panohub RPI.  I am going

to test an adhoc network setup to see how it works.



**IMPORTANT** - It is suggested you do a Raspbian ***sudo apt-get update*** and ***sudo apt-get upgrade***

before curl install.



***Step 1*** With mouse left button highlight curl command in code box below. Right click mouse in **highlighted** area and Copy.    

***Step 2*** On RPI putty SSH or terminal session right click, select paste then Enter to download and run script.



    curl -L https://raw.githubusercontent.com/pageauc/panopi/master/panohub/install-panohub.sh | bash



This will create a /home/pi/panohub folder and required files for communicating with panosend RPI's and 

stitching received images.  Default timelapse period is 60 seconds.  The webserver can be used to

view and align images.     

See [INSTRUCTIONS](https://github.com/pageauc/panopi/#instructions) below for more details. 



### PANOSEND INSTALL

On each RPI computer with a picamera installed and working, the curl script below will install the panosend files

into a /home/pi/panosend folder.



***Step 1*** With mouse left button highlight curl command in code box below. Right click mouse in **highlighted** area and Copy.    

***Step 2*** On RPI putty SSH or terminal session right click, select paste then Enter to download and run script.



    curl -L https://raw.githubusercontent.com/pageauc/panopi/master/panosend/install-panosend.sh | bash



Start panowatch.py as a background task per    



    cd ~/panosend

    ./panowatch.sh start



Note: You can auto start panowatch on boot by editing the file /etc/rc.local    

    

    sudo nano /etc/rc.local



Then Add the command below just before exit 0    

    

    sudo -u pi /home/pi/panosend/panowatch.sh start    



To save changes and exit nano press ctrl-x y



## INSTRUCTIONS 

(Assumes you are comfortable with SSH, Terminal Session commands)



#### Step 1

Edit panohub.yaml to change ***panohub_settings*** CAM_HOST_NAMES to reflect the panosend zeroconf host names.

Review other settings like IMAGE_PREFIX, TIMELAPSE_TIMER, Etc as required. 

Move down to ***panosend_settings*** and review CAM_WIDTH, CAM_HEIGHT, Etc

***IMPORTANT*** You DO NOT need to change the ***ZMQ_PANOHUB_IP*** setting since this will

be changed automatically by panohub.py to reflect the actual panohub computer ip address.    

  

    cd ~/panohub    

    nano panohub.yaml



To save changes and exit nano press ctrl-x y     



#### Step 2

On each panosend host start the panowatch.sh script per commands below.       



    cd ~/panosend    

    ./panowatch.sh start  



This will run panowatch.py as a background task.



#### Step 3

On panohub computer start the webserver to view images per commands below.    



    cd ~/panohub    

    ./webserver.sh start



#### Step 4

On any local area computer, Web browser input webserver url:port on the web browser

url bar per examples below.  Note change to suit your actual network details.    



    192.168.1.177:8080    

    mypanohub.local:8080



When panohub.py is started, received images will be saved into the folders ***timelapse*** and ***pano_images***

    

#### Step 5

On panohub computer start panohub.py per commands below. This RPI can be any RPI on your network.

You will get faster stitching using a RPI4. panohub.py will read the panohub.yaml file panosend_settings

section, modify the ZMQ_PANOHUB_IP setting and stream to panowatch.py on each panosend computer.

panowatch.py will create a panosend.yaml from the transmitted panohub yaml stream. panowatch will  

then start/restart panosend.sh that will start panosend.py as a background task getting its settings

from the saved panosend.yaml file.       



    cd ~/panohub    

    ./panohub.py



Review panohub.py log messages and confirm images are being received from each panosend camera.     

Align panosend computer camera(s) using the webserver timelapse images as a guide. Pick a

few objects in images for reference. You will need to align camera views vertically and horizontally.

When stitching is successful you can view results in the pano_images folder via web browser interface.

 

It is best to start initially with two panosend cameras. It will then be easier to get 

correct image overlap alignment. Try a lot of overlap initially then narrow overlap.

Images need to align vertically and horizontally.



You can then add additional panosend hosts to the configuration by

adding them to the panohub.yaml panohub_settings, CAM_HOST_NAMES list variable.

When panohub.py is stopped, it will send a zmq stop message to each panosend computer and panowatch will

stop the panosend background task. When panohub is restarted the panosend_settings will be send to panowatch

on each panosend machine and panosend.py will be restarted as a background task.

Press ctrl-c to exit panohub.py.



Once images are aligned properly and stitching is working, you can start panohub.py 

as a background task using command 



    ./panohub.sh start  



## RPI CAM STAND 

I found aligning the camera's very tricky.  I designed a simple foamboard stand that allows adjusting the

camera views accurately. The camera image overlap and alignment can be set easily.  Also since the stand

mounts are just dowels, I mounted mine on a board so camera setup can be transported easily.  I am using wifi

and will use a ANKER powered hub with one ft long usb cables. This will give a clean setup. The cam stand

dowel can be inserted into any horizontal or vertical serface (as long as you can drill a dowel hole). I suggest

you mount to board and then mount the board on a wall or flat surface.



Below is the foam board design template in pdf format. This can be printed and used as a template. Adjust height to your liking

if you wish.  I have made several different heights to allow cameras to see over window frames.  My RPI's have cases that mount the

 camera internally. If you have different case your camera mounting details might be different.



[Click to View RPI CAM STAND PDF template](https://github.com/pageauc/panopi/blob/master/rpi-stand.pdf)    



Image with three RPI's with picamera modules mounted in the cases. The panosend RPI's are attached to a board using wooden dowels per design drawing details. 

Also note the Anker powered USB hub and short one ft long USB cables. This makes for a cleaner setup that is much easier to transport.

These are older single core RPI's so I had to use WIFI adapters.    

![RPI CAM STAND CLOSE](https://github.com/pageauc/panopi/blob/master/rpi-stand-1.jpg)



## SAMPLE IMAGES

This is one of the images taken in our computer/sewing room.  Not very exciting and will post better one

when the project is further developed.  I use old RPI's.  Note the displayed image below is really resized.

Select link for Actual image size which is much larger depending on the camera resolution.

Original panosend images were 720p before stitching.



#### 1080p PANO

![1080p Pano Timelapse Image Sample](https://github.com/pageauc/panopi/blob/master/pano-tl-1130_1080.jpg)    

[Click to View Full Size 1080p Pano Timelapse Image Sample](https://github.com/pageauc/panopi/blob/master/pano-tl-1130_1080.jpg)  



#### 720p PANO  

![720p Pano Timelapse Image Sample](https://github.com/pageauc/panopi/blob/master/pano-tl-1145-720.jpg)    

[Click to View Full Size 720p Pano Timelapse Image Sample](https://github.com/pageauc/panopi/blob/master/pano-tl-1145-720.jpg)



Regards    

Claude ...