Infrared webcam ready

For this project, we decided that the most accurate way to track the targets that spotlights need to follow would be to place an infrared light emitter on top of each one of the targets. The next step would be to place a webcam modified that only picks up infrared light and place it on the roof (high above any possible prop obstacles) to pick up the infrared light and use it to locate the targets. We decided to test if this was a possible method.

We bought a webcam from frys to modify it into an infrared webcam ($15). However, the modification process proved to be a tad bit trickier than we initially thought, and the webcam was damaged in the process. Then we got another webcam from walmart and managed to successfully modify it ($20). The following is a small clip created using our modified webcam.

Background details about the video: This video was filmed using the modified webcam, in a mildly lit room, with light sources consisting of natural sunlight and a fluorescent lamp. The reader should not that neither one of these sources are visible in the video because of the modification of the webcam. Such light sources are censored out. The white dot that is seen is the infrared light emitted from a normal remote control.



So we have an infrared webcam ready.

Project information

Group members:
Vamshi Mannam (30387733)
Nihar Desai (66057656)
Melvin Asuncion (34916425)
Brian Solloway (86251105)

Mentor: Alexander Ihler

Project description: Our group intends to design a fully automated scale version of a spotlight, which will follow an object with no required person "behind the scenes" operating any machinery. We intend to cater to a number of reasonable assumptions to make this project practical for real life usage, including the accuracy of the projection of light from the spotlight and taking into account the various props that may be on the stage. Also we will have multiple spotlights each which its one target to follow.