Features

• periodically shots a photo allowing time lapse photography (can be combined with bulb mode), max time between photos: 99:59:59 (h:m:s),
• bulb time (maximum 99 h 59 m 59 s),
• postponed start (up to 24 h in advance),
• powered by 2 AA(A) batteries (3V),
• 2 × 16 characters LCD display + encoder for easy control,
• easy to use software,
• minimal number of components, small PCB,
• RTC clock (no calendar),
• low battery indicator.

Design

Device uses ATMEL's atmega168 micro controller (at the time of writing this ar

Second hand video camera Nikon VH-3100 (8mm standard). Cost about 40€. I use it as secondary source of video signal.
It has much better lens than PCB camera and can provide colorfull pictures. Has ability to record movies. Much cheaper than colour CCTV camera with comparable lens.

The bad thing is that it needs more power and sensivity is much worst than PCB cam. Compare 4lux/F1.8 for camcorder to 0.05lux/F1.2 for PCB cam. It has built it microphone, but underwater it is useless.

Cheap PCB B/W camera. Intended as primary vision because of high sensibility. Cost 30€. Color cameras with the same prize has only 1lux sensibility, 20 times worst.

Video signal

Most cameras have a standard composite video output signal (described as 1Vpp 75 Ohm). You can directly connect camera output to the TV or a video recorder. This is the best choice, cheap and widely used. Because it uses an analog signal, you need an extra equipment to connect it to a computer, but in most cases it is not necessary – you can use standard video monitor. Video to USB converter costs about 50&euro , TV or video PCI cards are even cheaper.

One of the best methods to visualize ROV data is to show them as overlay on images from camera.
This project can be used in any ROV. It presents data read from sensors mixed with video signal from camera. It can read data from analog 4-20mA sensors and from I²C chips. Although project assume usage of specific sensors, any I²C or 4-20mA sensors can be used. Only software needs small modifications.