Mounting a USB camera

Matt Morgan

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Dec 27, 2018, 10:38:03 AM12/27/18

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Hi folks:

Have been thinking about mounting one of these small USB cameras to my rockets. Does anyone have advice on how to do so? I saw the Apogee video using velcro and a shroud, but am wondering if there are other ways to do so? Also is it safe or do I need to re-balance the rocket?

Camera:

<https://www.dhgate.com/product/mini-camera-hd-camcorder-motion-detection/409945442.html?f=bm%7cGMC%7cpla%7c1628248255%7c63475266658%7c409945442%7cpla-294680686006%7c106002%7cUS%7cannibi%7cc%7c2%7c&utm_source=pla&utm_medium=GMC&utm_campaign=annibi&utm_term=409945442&gclid=Cj0KCQiAjZLhBRCAARIsAFHWpbE5vJqztvDQbNMB3J78ZVAoT6Aeh9EIP1x2meBhEfsZodm6KX2hBcsaAihIEALw_wcB>

Matt

Joe Bowen

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Dec 27, 2018, 11:11:12 AM12/27/18

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Matt,

I've mounted cameras to the sides of rockets. You do need to make sure the CG doesn't move to far, but the side aerodynamic drag doesn't seem to affect things too much. I can't find a picture but I made a little mount for this camera: https://www.adafruit.com/product/3202 I basically just zip tied the mount to the side of the rocket.

Joe

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Matt Morgan

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Dec 27, 2018, 11:17:37 AM12/27/18

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Perfect! Thank you

Matt

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Frederick Cobb

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Dec 27, 2018, 3:00:23 PM12/27/18

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Matt,

Here is another possible consideration depending on your construction.

“I would rather have questions that can't be answered than answers that can't be questioned.”

― Richard Feynman

Kind Regards,

Frederick

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image003.jpg

0218132340.jpg

Joe Bowen

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Dec 27, 2018, 3:12:03 PM12/27/18

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i've also wanted to use one of these as the nose cone for a rocket:

https://www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/gear-360/

maybe with a clear 'nose cone' shaped covering, maybe just as is...

Joe

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Matt Morgan

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Dec 27, 2018, 3:17:05 PM12/27/18

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I ended up buying this little camera; cheap in case we lose it!

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Bonrich-Mini-U8-USB-Stick-Camera-Hidden-Portable-U-Disk-Cam-Spy-Flash-Drive-Camcorder-Video-Recorder-Built-in-Microphone/948857728.

Hopefully I'll have it in time and bring it to the launch on the 6th. I'll probably just end up taping it or zip tying it to the body.

Matt

On Thu, Dec 27, 2018, 9:11 AM Joe Bowen <joe.b...@gmail.com wrote:

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Frederick Cobb

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Dec 27, 2018, 3:29:24 PM12/27/18

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Joe,

I bet you can make a fancy 3D printed mount and fit the camera in its center as the tip of the nose. That would be cool!

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Joe Bowen

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Dec 27, 2018, 3:32:19 PM12/27/18

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yea, but it's still sticking a $100 camera to the nose cone of a rocket... also, it would be even easier since the camera has a tripod mount screw hole in the bottom of it. it could just be a 'nose cone plug' that has a 1/4-20 stud sticking out of it.

Joe

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Michael Stieger

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Dec 27, 2018, 4:28:50 PM12/27/18

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Matt,

I used something like this to attach the camera to the rocket:

https://www.amazon.com/Silicone-Anti-Slip-Holders-Washable-Transparent/dp/B07CGRHT31/ref=mp_s_a_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1545945691&sr=8-17&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=sticky+gel+pads

And used the Apogee shroud (which I attached with blue tape). I didn't rebalance the rocket & had good success, but didn't do it on any small rockets.

Michael

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ricky

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Dec 28, 2018, 1:37:35 PM12/28/18

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matt,

no need to over-think the mounting,
using nothing more than aluminum foil duct tape and
cardboard wedges between cam and rocket body to adjust the field of view,
I mounted 4 keychain cameras to a 4 inch diameter rocket and flew it on a K550.
everything worked perfectly and stayed in place with minimal cost.
just make sure you tape over the cam well enough so drag forces don't peel it off at speed....

duct tape works too,
I duct taped a camera a little bigger than a bar of soap
to a rocket and it flew spot on straight just not as high as normal on a G64 at a CRASH launch.

cheers,
ricky

--------------------------------------------

On Thu, 12/27/18, Matt Morgan <mhmete...@gmail.com> wrote:

Subject: Re: [crash-talk] Mounting a USB camera

To: crash...@googlegroups.com
Date: Thursday, December 27, 2018, 1:16 PM

I ended up buying
this little camera; cheap in case we lose it!
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Bonrich-Mini-U8-USB-Stick-Camera-Hidden-Portable-U-Disk-Cam-Spy-Flash-Drive-Camcorder-Video-Recorder-Built-in-Microphone/948857728.

Hopefully I'll have it in time
and bring it to the launch on the 6th. I'll probably
just end up taping it or zip tying it to the
body.Matt

On Thu, Dec

27, 2018, 9:11 AM Joe Bowen <joe.b...@gmail.com
wrote:
Matt,
I've mounted cameras to the
sides of rockets. You do need to make sure the CG
doesn't move to far, but the side aerodynamic drag
doesn't seem to affect things too much. I can't
find a picture but I made a little mount for this
camera: https://www.adafruit.com/product/3202
I basically just zip tied the mount to the side of the
rocket.
Joe

On Thu, Dec

27, 2018 at 8:38 AM Matt Morgan <mhmete...@gmail.com>

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For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

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Matt Morgan

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Dec 28, 2018, 2:38:34 PM12/28/18

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Thanks for all the advice!!

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John Jamieson

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Dec 28, 2018, 9:08:06 PM12/28/18

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I have gotten away with just taping it to the body Tube, actually seems to work.

Matt Morgan

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Jan 6, 2019, 6:13:21 PM1/6/19

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Thanks for all the input on the camera. Here is a video of my taped on 7.00 USB video camera taken 1/6/19.

https://www.facebook.com/matt.morgan.90038/videos/10216301292142243/

Cheers!

Matt

Joe Bowen

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Jan 6, 2019, 6:18:29 PM1/6/19

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I'm getting 'content not found'. :-(

Joe

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Matt Morgan

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Jan 6, 2019, 6:32:16 PM1/6/19

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Try this

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1tERbGoJjN447k-l8w8emQWmjx0I336vS

M

Joe Bowen

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Jan 6, 2019, 6:41:02 PM1/6/19

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That worked. Nice launch.

Joe

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Matt Morgan

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Jan 6, 2019, 6:43:25 PM1/6/19

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Yup except for landing in the tree :(

Joe Bowen

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Jan 6, 2019, 6:48:01 PM1/6/19

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The tree was just trying to gently catch your rocket. It just wanted to be helpful.

Joe

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