Dashcam / Car Cam / Dashcam - Creative Uses of CHDK - CHDK Forum

Dashcam / Car Cam / Dashcam

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Dashcam / Car Cam / Dashcam
« on: 12 / November / 2014, 20:06:21 »
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Greetings, CHDK community!

I've carefully checked the forums for past posts on this matter, and haven't found anything since 2009, so I thought I'd bring it up again.

I'd really like to repurpose my unused PowerShot DS1100IS as a dashcam. There are a handful of technical challenges to overcome:

1. Looping recording :: I'd like to be able to create a series of videos (perhaps 10 minutes in length each) and save these to the SD card until the card is full, and then to start overwriting the oldest clips as I keep recording.

2. Automatic Power :: I'd like the camera to recognize the 5v USB connection coming from my car and power itself on when I start the car, and then automatically start its looping video. Once I turn off my vehicle, the 5v will stop, and I'd like the camera to know to turn itself off. Perhaps this can be achieved with a motion sensor... when the image stops changing (ie, inside my garage), the camera can stop recording. I'm open to suggestions here.

3. Mounting on my dash or windshield :: I have a couple of mounts that I think will work that can screw into the bottom of the camera. I'll need to test each of these out and compare their relative stability.

So, what do you think? I'm sure I'm not the only one who has thought about putting this poor neglected camera to good use!

Thanks in advance for your comments,

BvO

Re: Dashcam / Car Cam / Dashcam
« Reply #1 on: 12 / November / 2014, 21:31:56 »
The looping video stuff might be possible with a script but the Canon firmware gets twitchy when you change files (e.g. delete) on the SD card from a script. Not sure how this would affect this application - perhaps others will comment.

Having the camera turn on when you apply either apply power or assert the USB 5V is probably not going to happen unless your ixus80_sd1100 happens to be one of the few Canon P&S cameras that supports that.

There are a lot of windshield suction cups available that will mount a camera via its tripod attachment point.  Be aware that having things on you dash or windshield may be illegal in your country / state.

Edit :  USB power up is not going to happen : http://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php?topic=2044.msg25083#msg25083   
« Last Edit: 12 / November / 2014, 21:38:16 by waterwingz »
Ported :   A1200    SD940   G10    Powershot N    G16

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Offline ahull

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Re: Dashcam / Car Cam / Dashcam
« Reply #2 on: 13 / November / 2014, 18:16:04 »
Power on with USB might not be going to happen, but the chances are that if you power the camera with a dummy battery adapter, then keeping the Power button pressed (with a bit of tape or some other mechanical contrivance) may be all you need to do to ensure that the camera comes on when the adapter powers up. This trick works with most of the Ixuses (or is that Ixusi) that I have.

More info in this thread... http://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php?topic=10284.msg113653#msg113653

.. and you can see this trick in action here...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5jcgoYgfZs
« Last Edit: 13 / November / 2014, 18:20:06 by ahull »

Re: Dashcam / Car Cam / Dashcam
« Reply #3 on: 13 / November / 2014, 18:48:13 »
Power on with USB might not be going to happen, but the chances are that if you power the camera with a dummy battery adapter, then keeping the Power button pressed (with a bit of tape or some other mechanical contrivance) may be all you need to do to ensure that the camera comes on when the adapter powers up. This trick works with most of the Ixuses (or is that Ixusi) that I have.
Thanks for adding that.  I realized afterward that I forgot to mention it but got busy with other things and forgot to update my post.
Ported :   A1200    SD940   G10    Powershot N    G16

 

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