DIY Photography

Your one stop shop for everything photo-video

  • News
  • Inspiration
  • Reviews
  • Tutorials
  • DIY
  • Gear
Search

Submit A Story

Researchers develop HD streaming video camera that uses 1/10,000th current power requirements

Apr 24, 2018 by John Aldred Add Comment

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

Wearable camera technology might seem like a gimmick, especially after the failure of Google Glass. But, every day, we hear of new wearable camera devices being released. So, while some may be gimmicks, it looks like the ideas a whole is here to stay. The one issue that current cameras have had, though, is that they’re kind of power hungry.

Researchers at the University of Washington have now developed a new HD streaming camera that soon may require no batteries at all. The jobs of those power hungry components have been shifted out of the camera and into the receiving device, like a smartphone or tablet. This new HD streaming system requires 1/1,000th to 1/10,000th the power of current streaming technology, which it just plucks out of the air.

Normally, with a streaming camera system, the camera sees the analogue world, and then converts it into a digital signal. This digital signal is then transmitted digitally to a receiver. The new system takes the whole digital system out of the equation, putting the load onto the receiving devices, like smartphones and tablets.

If I understand correctly, and it’s entirely possible that I’m not. The new system essentially harvests radio waves that are already bouncing around through the air to power the camera. Then this analogue data is transmitted to the receiving device where it’s processed. At least, that’s the plan. Right now it does still use a small battery to support continuous operation, but the next step is to make it completely battery-free.

This new tech could theoretically allow for all kinds of new streaming cameras that don’t require any power source whatsoever. Pet monitors, home security, or perhaps attaching cameras to all of the players and officials in a football match to view the perspective from any of them while the game’s still being played.

It’s a while off that kind of tech yet, though. At the moment the current prototype can stream 720p HD videos at up to 10 frames per second to something like a laptop with a range of about 14ft (4m). That’s not very powerful just yet, so I wouldn’t expect it to be sending signals many yards down a football field, especially when there’s potentially dozens of other cameras to compete with. But it does hold some great possibilities for the future.

Looking at the photos right now, it’s a bit unwieldy for a pair of glasses, but I’m sure as it gets more developed it’ll scale down nicely.

It’s a great start to a very interesting piece of camera tech that has a lot of future potential. It will be very interesting to see where it’s eventually applied.

You can read more about it on the University of Washington website, and see the complete paper on the technology here.

[via DPReview / Feature image: Dennis Wise/University of Washington]

FIND THIS INTERESTING? SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS!

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

Related posts:

Researchers develop system to locate gunshots based on smartphone video Researchers develop after-the-fact portrait relighting AI that works without 3D depth information German researchers develop a sensor that’s near-impossible to blow highlights with Iranian streaming website uses Photoshop to remove women from album covers

Filed Under: news Tagged With: camera technology, Streaming, University of Washington, Wireless Camera

John Aldred: from diyphotography.net

About John Aldred

John Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

« This is the world’s first Sony E-Mount 35mm film camera – and it’s open source
How to perfectly match color between two photos using curves »

Submit A Story

Get our FREE Lighting Book

DIYP lighting book cover

* download requires newsletter signup
DIYPhotography

Recent Comments

Free Resources

Advanced lighting book

Recent Posts

  • Here’s a bullet time video booth you can build yourself
  • Ricoh has discontinued the HD PENTAX-DA 21mm F3.2AL Limited silver lens
  • This “stellar flower” unravels the twilight’s evolution in 360 degrees
  • Strobes vs Continuous LEDs – Which is right for you?
  • Wave goodbye to Apple’s My Photo Stream next month

Udi Tirosh: from diyphotography.netUdi Tirosh is an entrepreneur, photography inventor, journalist, educator, and writer based in Israel. With over 25 years of experience in the photo-video industry, Udi has built and sold several photography-related brands. Udi has a double degree in mass media communications and computer science.

Alex Baker: from diyphotography.netAlex Baker is a portrait and lifestyle driven photographer based in Valencia, Spain. She works on a range of projects from commercial to fine art and has had work featured in publications such as The Daily Mail, Conde Nast Traveller and El Mundo, and has exhibited work across Europe

David Williams: from diyphotography.netDave Williams is an accomplished travel photographer, writer, and best-selling author from the UK. He is also a photography educator and published Aurora expert. Dave has traveled extensively in recent years, capturing stunning images from around the world in a modified van. His work has been featured in various publications and he has worked with notable brands such as Skoda, EE, Boeing, Huawei, Microsoft, BMW, Conde Nast, Electronic Arts, Discovery, BBC, The Guardian, ESPN, NBC, and many others.

John Aldred: from diyphotography.netJohn Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

Dunja Djudjic: from diyphotography.netDunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.

Copyright © DIYPhotography 2006 - 2023 | About | Contact | Advertise | Write for DIYP | Full Disclosure | Privacy Policy