how to process a simple loop in WWW::Mechanize to be more efficient?

Linux or Windows data acquisition system advice

• Advice on building a simple process control lab PC running either Linux or Windows I am seeking recommendations on how to assemble a PC which to be used in a series of simple process control experiments. I need the PC to do the following: 1. Acquire images from a camera controlled by the PC. 2. Store the images in an array so that I can write a program to manipulate the captured value in each image in series. (More on this shortly). 3. Output three numerical values to be calculated in the program I write as analog voltages (for control purposes). These functions will be executed serially under program control. I desire to execute the control loop at a rate of 30 frames per second (fps). However, a slower solution down to 3 frames per second is acceptable, and rates higher than 30 fps would be idea. The images should have a resolution of at least 250x250 pixels. Light intensity is not limited. Because this control loop will be run serially, there is no need to store the image data. The numerical calculations to be done by the program will be simple, consisting of such things as locating the maximum pixel value and counting the number of pixels that exceed a threshold intensity. Thus, I expect that computer processing speed is not dictated by the numerical processing. The output voltages should be less than 10 volts and can have an output impedance of anything less than 10,000 ohms. Additional digital outputs to control lights would be useful but are not required. I myself am an old guy decently competent in numerical processing but without much competence or interest in manipulating DLL libraries, getting handles to processes, managing libraries at link time, etc. So, I am hoping to find a solution that allows me to focus on the problem rather than the mechanics. I do not particular care if the recommend solution runs Linux or some Windows flavor. I have found a few USB-based data acquisition products. I have also found one particular software program, described at the site http://www.imagingcontrol.com/ic/features/overview/, that might be useful. However, rather than spend considerable time assembling ( and probably failing for a while), I want some advice from people more familiar with the mechanics and available products than myself. Fry’s Electronics is not much use, sigh. A satisfactory answer would be a recommended Webcam, image capture program, and analog I/O device, advice on how to tie these to Visual Basic, for example, and directions on where to purchase the identified components commercially. I imagine that the complete solution will cost less than $1000 plus the cost of the PC. I am willing to attend a hands-on class if necessary to get this built. I am also willing to pay someone to do the system assembly or to simply buy a completed system. My preference would be to have an answer on the recommended approach first, however.

• Answer:

  Hi, I have a solution for you which will place the OS you are asking about into "either/or" with equal value. There is a camera that I've used for several years now that works with this type of setup very well and your program can access the images as a simple file read, taking out all the DLL and OS needs in accessing the camera. Very simple and very effective. The speed is good enough, and can be adjusted. The camera is here, or at least one place to purchase it is here: http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/input/netcams/36a0/ This web cam is complete (has its own OS, CPU and webserver) and hooks straight into your network, and is pretty easy to setup and get working. The options from this point are to get the image from the camera using FTP from your program, or.. have the camera FTP the image to the computer you are using, Or, access the image fromt the camera's webpage using VB, or..(there is quite a list of things you can do from this point)... the choice would depend on how many computers need to access the same image at the same time. If your program is CPU heavy, you may wish to get the picture from several CPU's and do seperate calculations. I'm not sure what you are really doing with this, but you might be intereseted in this camera as well: http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/input/netcams/3810/ Much more expensive but it has a built in Motion Sensor on it as well as all the other features of the previous camera. So if you only want the image to change when something has moved, then this is a good system for that type of monitoring. I wrote a program not too long ago using this camera to watch a security post. Worked very well. As for tieing this to your Visual Basic program, its pretty straight forward from this point. Everything is done for the interface. You will need a small hub, a network card for the PC, and some RJ45 line to connect. If you don't have a network already installed in your place, just write a Clarification request and I'll put together a "quick down and dirty" home network instruction answer for you that will get the camera working and let 5-10 computers access the camera or one PC access 5-10 cameras. Of course this 5-10 number set is only limited by how much you want to spend on hubs. There are hubs out there that will let 200 computers connect to the same camera and the camera won't care a bit. This setup really opens up options for you if you are trying to watch "changes over time" with various items needed to be watched. You may be able, depending on the program, access up to 10 cameras with a single PC and program. But again, I'm a bit in the dark as to what you are trying to do and how. Thanks, webadept-ga