DIY Thermal Cameras for Drones, RC & FPV - a quick tutorial

[VanDusen]

DIY Thermal Cameras for Drones, RC & FPV - a quick tutorial

https://youtu.be/JYp3dDWWEJ4

* overview
* schematics
* software installation
* camera driver test
* test flight
* drones - DJI, Parrot, Autel, .. & thermal cameras example
* RC helicopter & thermal cameras example
* RC cars & thermal cameras example
* FPV & thermal cameras example

This is just a quick hack. Goal is an inexpensive thermal camera which already supports composite out (576i, PAL, 4:3) by adding an additional MCU or using the onboard MCU. It should add less than $20. Any inexpensive FPV camera ($10+) supports composite out.

weight without battery & camera: 15 g (P2 Pro: 9.5 g; Compact (Pro): 14.5 g)

drivers: Seek cameras - libseek-thermal; InfiRay P2 Pro (v4l2, like a web cam); MLX90460: Tom Shaffner's script (patched)

FPV Thermal Cameras - Seek Compact -  quick test flight: https://youtu.be/MMFlseGx4XI
FPV Thermal Cameras - Seek Compact Pro - quick test flight:  https://youtu.be/C35rru15i0k
FPV Thermal Cameras - InfiRay P2 Pro: https://youtu.be/2cKUCA-EBAo
FPV Thermal Cameras part 1 - MLX90640 - test flight: https://youtu.be/JImprXh4hTI

Playlist IR Thermal Cameras for Drones, RC & FPV: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTY4osYDsm1o-pnuJv2AmEbx6t5KEQvSh

[VanDusen]

DIY Thermal Cameras for Drones - Parrot Anafi test flights - day & night

Video: https://youtu.be/BTbsvgiypa8

Pretty amazing flight at night. The new inexpensive high frame rate thermal imaging cameras are perfect for FPV low light flights, because they don't need visible light. Flight time about 18 minutes on a 3 years old Anafi battery.

weight circuit & camera (Infiray P2 Pro): 25 g
range: 7 km (on 25 mW with a $20 patch antenna); 20+ km on 400 mW - see video 7 km out on 25 mW (VTX):  https://youtu.be/lpIYSVbiiIU

[VanDusen]

RunCam Night Eagle 3 vs Thermal Camera InfiRay P2 Pro - Full Moon Flight

https://youtu.be/Wqdx2HIysGI

Amazing performance of the RunCam Night Eagle 3 low light FPV camera and of the InfiRay P2 Pro IR thermal camera.

[VanDusen]

FPV Night Vision Goggles mod - tutorial & schematics

Same principle, but without VTX. Connected via composite or HDMI to FPV goggles.

https://youtu.be/KAHy4lMCWPk

compatible FPV goggles:

DJI FPV V1 & V2
Fatshark HDO2
HD Zero
Skyzone Sky04X, Cobra X, 03X, 02X, ..
& goggles with AV- or HDMI input