Serial Photo Camera

The serial photo camera module enables remote image capture on Antares. The camera connects via RS232 serial port and supports multiple resolution settings with configurable routing options.

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WARNING - POWER REQUIREMENT

The serial camera device must be connected to 12 Volts only. 24 volts could cause damages on the serial port.

Overview

The photo camera system provides:

• Image capture at selectable resolutions
• File storage with pending file tracking
• Flexible routing to different destinations
• Diagnostic state monitoring
• Remote clearing of stored images

FTP Configuration Required

Before using the serial photo camera, FTP upload must be configured to send captured images to a remote server. Use the XAFS command to configure FTP credentials and destination settings.

See XAFS — FTP Settings for complete FTP configuration instructions.

Commands Summary

For full command details, see the command section:

• XASC — Serial Camera
  • Includes XASCM, XASCD, XASCI, and XASCC
• XASCN — Serial Camera Notifications
  • Includes asynchronous notification format and state codes

Supported Resolutions

Resolution	Use Case
160×128	Thumbnail/preview images
320×240	Standard quality
640×480	High quality (default)

Supported Routes

Destination	Description
Undecided	Camera mode disabled; files not captured
Socket 0 or 1	Specific socket destination (up to 2 sockets)

Photo Event Example (with PS tag)

To configure a photo event:

1. Use XASCM to set Serial Camera mode 2.
2. Verify camera connection with XASCD.
3. Configure an event using event handling P with ED.

Example event setup:

>SED00PV0;F00+<

When the event is triggered, the report includes photo tag PS:

>REV001709457298+0466924-0740537700000011;PS00=598<

Operation Modes

Mode 0 — Disabled

Camera is disabled. No images are captured.

• Serial port is available for other use (console, modem, etc.)
• No pending files stored
• Camera responds to queries with idle status

Mode 2 — Active

Camera is actively capturing images.

• Route: Specifies the destination socket for file transmission
  • U (undecided): Files are captured but not routed (stored locally for later assignment)
  • 0–1: Files are automatically routed to the specified socket
• Resolution: Determines image quality and file size
  • Lower resolution = smaller files, faster transmission
  • Higher resolution = better detail, larger files

When enabled:

1. Serial port switches to SERCAM (serial camera) mode
2. Console is disabled
3. Camera begins capturing on trigger events (e.g., alarm, periodic snapshot)
4. Images are stored locally until transmitted

Switching away from camera mode:

• Send >SXASCM0< to disable
• Serial port switches back to console mode
• Pending files remain stored for manual transmission

Example Workflow

1. Enable camera with route and resolution:

   >SXASCM212<         (enable, socket 1, 320×240)

2. Verify camera is active:

   >QXASCM<
   >RXASCM212<

3. Check pending files:

   >QXASCI<
   >RXASCI3<           (3 images waiting)

4. Query camera state:

   >QXASCD<
   >RXASCD0100<        (port 1, idle)

5. Clear images after transmission:

   >SXASCC<

Technical Specifications

Parameter	Specification
Serial Port	RS232, 115200 bps, 8N1
Max Resolution	640×480 pixels
File Format	JPEG (camera-specific)
Storage	Local flash (device-dependent capacity)
Routing	10 socket destinations (0–9)
Max Pending Files	Depends on available storage

Troubleshooting

Issue	Cause	Solution
No images captured	Camera mode disabled	Enable with >SXASCM2<
State code = 99	Mode initialization error	Verify serial port is not locked; try disabling/re-enabling
Files not transmitting	Route = U (undecided)	Assign a specific socket: >SXASCM2{socket}3<