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Control software for operating a pan/tilt platform for gigapixel panorama acquisition

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TomNaiser/PanoramaControl

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PanoramaControl

PanoramaControl is an open-source control software for motorized pan/tilt panorama heads. I have developed the software over almost 10 years, together with the corresponding hardware (which is presented here: https://sites.google.com/site/thomasnaiser/home/gigapixel-hardware)

PanoramaControl is written in C# (VisualStudio 2017), its graphical user interface is based on Windows Forms. The software has been tested with Microsoft Windows (versions 7, 8 and 10). I am operating PanoramaControl from a small intel atom based netbook. Via a wireless connection (Bluetooth) position and camera(shutter)-commands are sent to the automated panorama head. The motorized panorama platform is controlled by a microcontroller - currently an Arduino Mega 2560 is in use.

The arduino sketch PanoDuinoControl (another project of mine that can be found here on Github) handles the communication with PanoControl, and operates the RC-servos, position encoders and camera shutters. Cameras require a remote shutter release which can be triggered by the microcontroller.

Features:

-software is tailored for ease of use, with a focus on the acquisition of gigapixel panoramas comprising thousands of single shots

-configuration of stitching parameters for various cameras and camera/lens-combinations (e.g. Sony A7 with various lenses, Lumix FZ200, Lumix FZ28)

-adjustable timing, overlap parameters

-configuration (new cameras etc.) can be set in PanoControlConfig.xml

-enter start- and end-positions for panorama acquisition

-start/stop/pause acquisition

-timelapse mode

-recording of exact shoot positions (based on position encoder readings) for import professional stitiching software

-wireless communication with microcontroller-based panorama head

-can be extended to various acquisition modes (default: flat panorama for large gigapixel panoramas) . I didn't care much about spherical panoramas (not very well implemented yet), but a proper implementation shouldn't be too difficult.

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