https://github.com/um-arm-lab/arm_video_recorder

ROS node to record from a connected video device (webcam) and save to a file
https://github.com/um-arm-lab/arm_video_recorder

Last synced: 4 days ago
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ROS node to record from a connected video device (webcam) and save to a file

• Host: GitHub
• URL: https://github.com/um-arm-lab/arm_video_recorder
• Owner: UM-ARM-Lab
• Created: 2019-01-26T16:51:44.000Z (almost 6 years ago)
• Default Branch: master
• Last Pushed: 2022-02-18T15:52:29.000Z (over 2 years ago)
• Last Synced: 2023-08-24T16:14:16.358Z (about 1 year ago)
• Language: Python
• Size: 6.48 MB
• Stars: 4
• Watchers: 10
• Forks: 1
• Open Issues: 3
• Metadata Files:
  • Readme: README.md

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README

        
# Arm Video Recorder

This connects a webcam or camcorder to ROS for automatically triggered video recording

## Basic Usage

1. Clone repo, rebuild (`catkin_make`), re-source (`source ~/catkin_ws/devel/setup.bash`)

2. Plug in camera to USB port

2. `roslaunch arm_video_recorder arm_video_recorder.launch`

3. Call the service to start recording video. Call the service again to stop recording such as

  `rosservice call /video_recorder ~/video.mp4 1 100`

  

## Python Example Code

```

from arm_video_recorder.srv import TriggerVideoRecording, TriggerVideoRecordingRequest

...

    video = rospy.ServiceProxy("/video_recorder", TriggerVideoRecording)

    req = TriggerVideoRecordingRequest()

    req.filename = "my_experiment_name_{}.mp4".format(unique_trial_string)

    req.timeout_in_sec = 60.0

    req.record = True

    video(req)

    

    [make the robot do something]

    

    req.record=False

    video(req)

```

## Service Arguments

- `bool record`: If `False` request recording stop. If `True` request recording start (stops previous recording). 

- `string filename`: Filepath to save recorded video. Can be absolute or relative. Must end with `.mp4` (recommended) or `.avi`.

- `float timeout_in_sec`: Maximum time to record. Must be set `> 0`. Recommend setting to 1hr to avoid large video recordings if you forget to stop recordings

## High Quality Video

Any camera that can interface with opencv's VideoCapture can be recorded. For low quality video plug a webcam into the computer running this ros node.

For high quality video, connect the lab camera to the capture card via HDMI. Connect the capture card to the computer via USB. 

If necessary, change settings on the Camera to prevent showing status icons (e.g. battery level) on the HDMI output.

![Capture Card:](https://github.com/UM-ARM-Lab/arm_video_recorder/blob/master/CaptureCard.JPG)

![MiniHDMIConnection:](https://github.com/UM-ARM-Lab/arm_video_recorder/blob/master/MiniHDMI.JPG)

## Troubleshooting

If you see a black video, likely the connection from the HDMI cable is loose. The miniHDMI connection to the armlab camera is finicky, and may need to be taped in place