Trigger camera remotely |

Trigger camera remotely

There are various methods to remotely trigger a still photograph camera to start taking pictures in the air, and to shut the camera down before landing to avoid damage to its lens. Read this 3DR webpage for a detailed description of how to do this using CHDK.

These methods basically involve:

Installing a CHDK firmware on a compatible Canon camera. The firmware is installed on the SD card, and does not overwrite the camera’s original firmware. This process is reversible.
Connecting the camera to your radio receiver or to the APM via a CHDK-USB cable (gentWIRE-USB or E-flite LED controller). See Flightriot.com’s excellent video on how to build such a cable.
Running a customized script on the camera that instructs the camera how to respond to signals from the radio receiver or APM.

The following is an extremely simple ‘.bas’ script written by ConservationDrones.org. (Download it here. Place unzipped ‘Remote.bas’ file in the Script folder of the camera’s SD card. Read this 3DR webpage for details.)

@ConservationDrones Remote Script 9/2013
:wait
if is_key “remote” then goto “loop” else goto “wait”
:loop
shoot
sleep 1000
if is_key “remote” then goto “loop” else shut_down

To start taking pictures, flick a switch on your radio transmitter (or output a PWM>1900 signal from APM). The camera will continue to take pictures repeatedly as long as the switch is in the ‘ON’ position (or PWM>1900). To stop taking pictures and shut the camera down, simply flick the transmitter switch back to the ‘OFF’ position (or output a PWM<1100 signal from APM). See video below for a quick demonstration.

4 thoughts on “Trigger camera remotely”

Nuno on September 12, 2013 at 7:04 pm said:

Hi,
I’m trying to implement a similar solution. I have the same canon camera with CHDK installed connected to the receiver trough a switch, as in the video.
I’m trying to use your script:
@ ConservationDrones Remote Script 9/2013
: wait
if is_key “remote” then goto “loop” else goto “wait”
: loop
shoot
sleep 1000
if is_key “remote” then goto “loop” else shut_down

However I can not use it properly …
I am confused with the steps to start the script/camera
can you describe me the steps to start the script?
the script should be in autostart mode?

thanks

Reply ↓

ConservationDrones on September 14, 2013 at 9:19 am said:

Hi,

Please check that you have selected ‘Enable Remote’ in the CHDK menu. And you need to run the script to have the camera start ‘listening’ to signal from the cable. Also make sure you have programmed the correct channel on your transmitter to be triggered by a switch.

Best,
LP

Reply ↓
- Nuno on September 15, 2013 at 4:10 pm said:
  
  Hi,
  Thanks for your help.
  The remote is enabled and the the script running OK. I’m using channel 5 (2 switch position) to control the ON/OFF from the script, but the script don’t start…(the camera remains with the lens retracted) the channel need to be “trimmed” to tun the script?
  Thanks for your support,
  NF

deva on December 15, 2018 at 1:43 am said:

hi guys will u please suggest me the method for triggering gopro with pixhawk without opening camera

Reply ↓