Remote Positioning of a Multidirectional Camera

Abstract: In today’s world of uncertainties, video surveillance is widely used to make the people of our society feel safe and protected. As more cameras are installed, the time of installation and ease of use play a critical role when customers decide which camera solution to select. One way to limit the number of cameras needed to cover multiple directions and large areas is to install a multidirectional camera. A multidirectional camera is a complete camera solution where multiple camera heads are incorporated in the same chassis and the most common type of multidirectional camera has only one IP-address which further favors usability. Additionally, to limit the time of installation and allow for adjustments during the camera’s lifetime it is beneficial to incorporate a remote positioning functionality to the camera. The objective of this thesis is to develop and produce a working prototype of a multidirectional camera, which consists of multiple camera modules, each with the capabilities of movement in four directions, pan, twist, tilt, and rotate which all can be controlled remotely. This was made possible by making an entirely new mechanical platform, PCB, and software for controlling the camera heads individually. The concept development phase was dominated by investigating which type of transmissions and actuators were best suited to fulfill the needs requested from the company. After deciding which concepts to further develop, these concepts were realized and produced through 3D printing. The prototype was then tested in order to verify that the needs were satisfied.