Sony A6000 images to LabVIEW

[FTirsgaard]

Hi all,

I'm working on a project where I need vision. I've got a Sony A6000 from my school to do it.

I've worked with vision i LabVIEW before, but this camera certainly isn't the same.

I can't even find the camera (in Vision Acquisition or MAX) in order to integrate it in LabVIEW, so my question is, does anyone have any experience with the Sony A6000 in LabVIEW and maybe also done it through a myRIO?

I can connect through Sony's own software, but that's how far I've got.

Best Regards,

Frederik

[Bob_Schor]

LabVIEW Vision has two methods of acquiring Images.  One is through NI Hardware based on Frame Grabbers, the IMAQ drivers, which work with specific cameras.  The other is through the Generic Interface for Cameras (or GenICam), an Industry standard that works with many USB or Ethernet-based Video Cameras, and use the IMAQdx drivers.

If you have the Drivers installed on your computer (note -- I believe the Vision Acquisition Software requires an additional license from NI) and a compatible camera is connected, it should be visible in MAX.  If it is not, then you are either missing the Drivers (look at the list of Software that MAX shows -- attach a screen shot, perhaps) or the Camera is just not LabVIEW-compatible.

Bob Schor

[FTirsgaard]

Somehow MAX says there's a bug, so I can't show you which I've got. I got the student package through my school if that tells you anything?

Is there a special driver (or several) you're thinking of? Because then I'll try downloading those 🙂

Nothing is available to me when the camera is plugged, which is weird since I've done it with other cameras before - as you say, it can be that it's not compatible..

/Frederik

[Bob_Schor · Accepted solution]

Try running IMAQdx Enumerate Cameras, and examine its output (with your camera connected to the PC, of course).  If you don't see this function, try the following:

1. Start LabVIEW (you don't say which version of LabVIEW you are running, but I'm going to assume it is LabVIEW 2015 or higher).
2. Create a blank VI.  Open its Block Diagram.
3. Type Ctrl-Space, which should bring up Quick Drop (it make take a second or two).
4. Start typing "IMAQdx Enumerate Cameras".  If nothing seems to happen, then you do not have LabVIEW Vision Development Module and/or Vision Acquisition Software installed.
5. If you see IMAQdx Enumerate Cameras being selected, type <Return> to put this function on your (empty) Block Diagram.
6. Right-click the two Outputs and "Create Indicators" to create Camera Information Array and Error Out.
7. Run this VI.  If your Camera is detected, it will show up as an Entry on the Camera Information Array.

If the above code succeeds, and you want more help, please provide the following:

1. Take the VI you just ran that shows the Camera Information Array with data about your Camera.
2. Go to the Edit Menu and click "Make Current Values Default" (to save the data in the Indicator).
3. Attach this VI (so we can see the Indicator for ourselves.

My suspicion is that that either don't have the required NI Vision software or don't have an GenICam-compatible Camera, signified by the above test returning an Empty Array.

Bob Schor

[FTirsgaard]

Hi Bob,

Thank you. My bad that I didn't mention which version I'm using - I'm used to just assist other students where we all use LabVIEW 18.

The VI returns just the two cameras on my Surface Pro 3 laptop, so I'll guess that the camera isn't compatible? Unless you have other ways of testing?

I can quickly attach the output from the VI so you can see for yourself 🙂

A note for the camera:

To make the camera active when it's attached to the PC I have to first open Sony's own software 'Remote'. I've played around to find a way to surpass this without success. To others: I've stumpled across this, link below, which makes you able to control the camera through digital outputs. Haven't bought it yet though 🙂 Seagull Map2

Best regards,

Frederik

[Bob_Schor]

Now that you know your Camera is not compatible with the GenICam standards, you can give up trying to acquire images from it using IMAQdx.  If you manage to get "images" (however they are represented) into your computer via the Vendor's DLL, and can call this from LabVIEW, you may be able to manipulate the Images using LabVIEW's Vision Development Module.

Bob Schor

[FTirsgaard]

Hi Bob,

I'm pretty sure that it's possible to open them through their location on the PC, eventhough it's an AWR-file.

However, that's not in my interest since it all is surposed to run on a myRIO in an underwater ROV 🙂

Thanks alot anyway - I'll set your walkthrough as my solution 🙂

Best regards,

Frederik