..Digital camera aerial photos..08-08-2002.......

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..Remote controlled model plane based aerial photography...... ..The AIPTEK mini-Pencam..

..Remote controlling requires installation of a servo..

The AIPTEK cameras, the orginal Pencam 1.3 and later Pencam 1.3 SD feature a remarkable 1246x960 image size. Approximately 50 still images can be taken before the images need to be downloaded from the camera.. and.. about 2 minutes of 640x320 video.. flying weight just under 4 oz. The AIPTEK camera can be triggered directly by a servo installed in this manner, or by getting inside and doing some rewiring for a relay actuation... The ON button must be pushed and held for one second to turn the camera ON. The button then becomes the MODE switch, changing from still to video to self-timer to erase one frame to erase all frames to resolution and back to still image.. The camera turns itself OFF after one minute of non-use. Therefore to keep taking pictures take one at least every 45-50 seconds.
The servo needs at least a 3 position channel.. one to push the ON button, a center null, and the other position for taking pictures. This servo setup uses the rudder channel, generally unused on a 3-channel airplane. Full left trim AND full left rudder arms (turns ON) the camera. The trim is then set to full right, so any sloppy centering on the stick won't trigger another mode. Full right rudder pushes the shutter button.
On the later Pencam SD 1.3, the shutter can be tripped this way....