Overview
This addendum provides information for connecting two or three RedEdge-3 cameras together such that they capture data simultaneously. It is intended to be used in conjunction with the RedEdge-3 User Manual.
NOTE: This guide only applies for RedEdge-3. It does not apply to other models.
Connections.
Two additional components are needed in order to connect two or three cameras together:
1. A special cable with three ends or four ends
2. An interface board or DLS
Connect the cameras and cables as shown in the figures below. One of the cameras is a Master camera, the other(s) is(are) Slave camera(s). All cameras are connected through a custom cable to an interface board or DLS, which is in turn connected to the GPS module. Note that the cable has labels for “Master” and “Slave”. Any camera can be considered to be the Master, though it is recommended that the specific arrangement of which camera is Master and which one is Slave 1 and Slave 2 be kept consistent.
Two-Camera Configuration
Three-Camera Configuration
Provide power to all cameras (5V, 5W per camera) and verify that the cameras are booted up (front LED flashing).
Configuration
Connect to the WiFi user interface of each camera (one at a time) per the instructions in the User Manual. Each camera has a unique WiFi SSID. Verify that the software version is “1.5.14” or higher (the version number is viewable in the Settings page) – update the firmware if needed per the instructions provided with the firmware update package.
Once the software has been updated, in the Settings page, click on the Advanced Configuration link.
In the Advanced Configuration page, specify whether the connected camera is the Master or one of the Slave cameras by the pull-down menu. Only one camera can be Master and the other camera(s) must be Slave(s). Ensure that the Master camera matches the label on the cable that connects the two cameras. Press the Save button to confirm the configuration.
Repeat the steps above for the other camera(s) such that all cameras are configured, one as Master and the other(s) as Slave(s). Remove power from all cameras, ensure that the cameras are connected to each other with the custom cable as shown above, and apply power again.
Operation
Connect to the Master camera via WiFi interface and configure the triggering method (manual with the physical button, timer, overlap, or external). Each time the Master camera is triggered, all the cameras will communicate with each other such that they all take an image simultaneously. The Master camera will generate TIF files with suffixes 1 through 5; for example:
- IMG_0001_1.tif
- IMG_0001_2.tif
- IMG_0001_3.tif
- IMG_0001_4.tif
- IMG_0001_5.tif
The Slave 1 camera will generate TIF files with suffixes 6 through 10; for example:
- IMG_0001_6.tif
- IMG_0001_7.tif
- IMG_0001_8.tif
- IMG_0001_9.tif
- IMG_0001_10.tif
And if a second slave camera is used, the numbering continues at 11 for the images for that camera.
The image numbers should be synchronized such that IMG_0001_X.tif in the Master camera will match with IMG_0001_Y.tif in the Slave camera.
Post-Processing
If using MicaSense’s ATLAS service, upload the XXXX_SET folders corresponding to a flight for each of the cameras to the same Image Set using the MicaSense Uploader. You can do this by copying the contents of the Master and Slave SD cards to a common hard drive and uploading all at the same time. You could also upload the contents of one SD card folder first (selecting the “Don’t start processing. I have more data to upload.” option in the uploader) and then upload the contents of the second (and third) SD card folder with the “Begin processing when upload complete” option selected.