Solution for sync'ing GoPros to RCP

aaronvogel · Post by **aaronvogel** » Sat Dec 13, 2014 5:46 pm

A company called Cam-Do makes a controller board that plugs into the back interface on the GoPros (some restrictions in compatibility). It takes a trigger signal of 3-15V which could easily be made with the RCP. It can also power the GoPro from a 5V source, and power an LED to indicate the camera is on. A simple Lua script could trigger the camera when logging starts, when a segment is hit, or when a certain speed is hit.

http://cam-do.com/GoProTimeController.html
http://www.cam-do.com/manuals/CamDoCont ... html#board

They call it a Time Lapse Controller, but it really has so many more functions than that. At $135 with an acrylic cover it's not as cheap as an arduino, but it should be a lot more plug and play.

I haven't put one on our car yet, but I'll follow up when I do soon.

Post by **brentp** » Thu Dec 18, 2014 11:23 pm

This is good, keep us posted! Note, a simple circuit that grounds the automatic power-on for the go pro will do the same thing via one of the GPIO outputs. You will need a 30 pin cable to plug into the back of the gopro.

aaronvogel · Post by **aaronvogel** » Thu Dec 18, 2014 11:53 pm

Hey Brent,
Yeah, I'd found the video below on doing that very invasively (same thing with the GPIO I imagine). Though it seems easy enough to use this to create dash-mounted buttons to turn the gopro on or off (and then use 1-button mode to start/stop recording), but I'm not sure how this information would help sync with RCP.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpPfk4sLb3I

Post by **brentp** » Fri Dec 19, 2014 12:05 am

There might be a very simple solution possible using one of these cables or adapters right between a gopro and RCP.

http://www.chargeconverter.com/store/sandisk

I'd have to check the pinout and voltages, but the 1A 5v voltage reference from RCP might even keep the gopro charged. (RESEARCH NEEDED

)

Off to re-research this as the interest has been piqued.

Post by **brentp** » Fri Dec 19, 2014 12:20 am

example - looks like you can power (change) via 30 pin connector. Pin 12 is the trigger for starting stopping
http://www.getfpv.com/accessories-75/a- ... harge.html

Therefore, it looks like a simple cable connected to RCP can both start / stop recording as well as keep the unit charged from the RCP 5v output.

jpf11 · Post by **jpf11** » Fri Jun 12, 2015 5:51 am

I own one of cam-do's time lapse things along with their 12v power pack. I have it set up so the gopro powers on when the car is turned on and provides 12v power from an accessory line, and then a script in my hero 3+ Black's sd card turns on bluetooth. I then trigger recording with the bluetooth remote that I have velcro'd to the dash.

I let my rcpro log whenever I am over 20mph but that is too often for recording with the go pro I think so I prefer this method. Means I don't have to pull the card out of the gopro much to wipe space from junk videos around the paddock or if I am driving the car to a shop.