Project Background. Many consumption meters have an LED on the front that flashes, with the flashes signifying a particular unit has been consumed. I would like to use a combination of an Arduino and Camera to measure consumption by means of counting the LED flashes.
Project Details. I wish to position a suitable Arduino along with a suitable (I am somewhat cost sensitive, as there may be volume manufacturing) camera module facing the flashing LED. The LED will be 1-2 meters from the LED. With the LED flashes clearly visible, in frame but not occupying much, in terms of the whole image.
Project Specification: On power up we can assume the camera is fixed and the LED location doesn’t move. I need the Arduino to scan the camera image, identify the flashing LED, isolate that part of the image, could the flashing and output the count of flashes to the serial port each minute.
That’s really the scope in a nut shell.
Happy to pay an hourly rate, or agree on a cost after answering any questions.
50% up front, 50% on completion, although I don’t see this as a huge task for the right person - I’ve had a try, but I’m time short at the moment!
I don’t have a budget in mind, this is a proof of concept rather than a project at this stage.
Thanks for reading, first time posting, so my apologies if I’ve messed anything up!
You will have a big problem attempting to use an Arduino for image processing. It does not have that power (at lease the 8 bit versions).
Anyway, you'd probably be better off with a photodiode mounted much closer to the consumption meter. That would be a much simpler system to implement. Of course you'd have to experiment with the position and ambient lighting to ensure it would deliver reliable results under all conditions.
A photodiode may work at 1-2 meters with an appropriate lens. Try here for examples: https://www.newport.com/f/photodiode-sensor-accessories
Anyway, what are you going to do if the "consumption meter" is in a small cupboard ?
Thanks for your reply. I went and took a look at the various accessories from your link.
I appreciate you taking the time to do that.
My rationale behind specifying a camera, and the distance is I (happy to be corrected) believe that although we may lack full image processing, it is possible to isolate a section of image and work with that.
So my thinking is rather than processing an image, we might be able to process a portion of that image.
I think this can be done by an appropriately focused Photo Diode, but preferably, a camera as there are some physical constraints I’m working with.
My rationale behind specifying a camera, and the distance is I (happy to be corrected) believe that although we may lack full image processing, it is possible to isolate a section of image and work with that.
Or you could isolate the ROI with some simple optics and a photodiode.
Stuart41:
I think this can be done by an appropriately focused Photo Diode, but preferably, a camera as there are some physical constraints I’m working with.
What physical constraints do you believe are are avoided by using a camera but present when using a photodiode?
You will need to install the photodiode inside a tube to block out ambient light. There will be some experimenting to get it right. It's not a good project to hand off to someone because this kind of experimenting takes time and can't be planned(estimated).
It appears that I may have been thinking along the wrong lines - using a camera, and maybe over complicating things.
One of the physical constants I was concerned about was potentially mounting the device on the door of a utility meter cupboard- which may influence the final focus point of the optics, which was my thinking behind the use of a camera and scanning for the flashing origin point.
That said, I’m always open to new approach’s and I’ll investigate the optics and photo diode solution.
Thanks again for the replies and I appreciate your input!
Another consideration is a "light pipe" to convey the LED light to the photo diode. A light pipe is acrylic plastic rod and if painted, except the ends, will stop ambient light.
Paul_KD7HB:
Another consideration is a "light pipe" to convey the LED light to the photo diode. A light pipe is acrylic plastic rod and if painted, except the ends, will stop ambient light.