Automated Overhead Camera Assistant for Instructional Videos
Introduction: Automated Overhead Camera Assistant for Instructional Videos
Have you ever wished you had an extra pair of hands in the workshop to handle the camera, while you were concentrating on your project ? This build tries to help with this, by providing an automated camera assistant, that can automatically move between learned keyframe camera positions, or alternatively continuously pan between them from above your workbench.
This adds depth to the project you are working on, and engages the viewer.
Most of the videos below are shot with the camera assistant where it continuously pans between keyframes. This meant I had two make an extra Camera Assistant in order to film the making of it, which gave me opportunity to double check my own instructable :) Only the videos of electronics are filmed with a static camera position, as I only had one controller at hand.
Step 1: How Does the Camera Assistant Differ From a Camera Slider
Camera sliders (with or without pan/tilt/zoom) are typically designed to be placed on tables, on the ground or on tripods with the scene off to the side of the slider, and they rotate around their own vertical (z) axis.
If a construction like that is turned upside down, filming with the scene underneath, the workbench would be spinning around as the camera moves between positions and rotates around it's z-axis. This could of course be fixed by only rotating the slider assembly 90 degrees, with it sticking out to the side of the rail, with the camera at the very end. However this is usually not how they intended to be used, and it may put different strain on the axes and much strain on the rails with heavier cameras.
The Camera Assistant is designed to hang upside down, moving parallel to the workbench. Furthermore in the relaxed position, the heavier lens in naturally balanced downwards, putting little stress on the steppers and bearings.
Step 2: Design Considerations
The camera assistant was designed to these parameters in prioritised order:
* Not require specialist tools or parts. All parts must be readily available from regular online supplies like Amazon.
* Must be able to make parts on a 3D printer or CNC, to make it accessible to a wider audience
* Suitable for mirrorless DSLR cameras, action cameras, or smaller mirrored DSLR cameras.
* Smooth accelerated camera motion
* Reasonably priced so that one can have multiple of these in a workshop
* Easy to move between slide rails in the workshop, if you only have one assistant
* No programming skills required
Step 3: An Example of When You Need an Assistant, and Not Have to Worry About Camera Positions!
In this video I wanted to document a nice cold process swirl. Unfortunately everything went wrong, while the camera assistant quietly went about it's business of slowly panning between camera positions, and documenting my disaster. 116
Note how during assembly of the soap, you get a nice view from the different angles, and good feeling of depth.
(An unfortunate combination of fragrance oil and clay caused the soap to seize up very hard way too soon. This resulted in a very messy soap, a broken glass beaker and glitter everywhere. I also forgot gloves, which is not good for your skin)
Step 4: An Example of Using Keyframes
This video demonstrates how to work with keyframes. First four keyframes were stored (Measuring, Ingredients, Cutting and Mixing), and then commands were given to select the keyframe to move to.
Step 5: Make the Parts on 3D Printer or CNC
All the parts are 6mm thick, which means you can of course 3D print it, but it can just as easily be cut on a CNC.
In the example video of the parts, the camera assistant moves along all three axes.
Step 6: Slide (X-axis) Assembly
The x-axis runs on the aluminium extrusion with four delrin wheels. The wheels are attached through some eccentric nuts, whereby the tension can be adjusted.
Step 7: Pan (y-axis) Assembly
The camera assistant can pan about +-20 degrees from straight down. It uses GT2 belt glued on to the side of the gear. This allows the part to be either 3D printed, CNC'ed or made with a scroll saw.
Step 8: Tilt (z-axis) Assembly
Like on the y axis, the z axis also uses glued on GT2 belt.
Step 9: Rail Extrusion
The Nema stepper on the x axis, uses GT2 belt glued on to the extrusion at the full length. The glued belt makes it easier to switch the assistant between rails, as there is no threading of belts, and belt tightening.
The video show how to adjust the eccentric nuts, for a tight smooth motion. 116