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[MGI31-P06] Experimental results on video IoT transmission using IP cameras in places without commercial power supply
Keywords:Video transmission System, Solar power, Raspberry Pi
Abstract
A system using solar panels and batteries is effective when you want to install a camera in a place without a commercial power supply for the purpose of watching over the area or monitoring disasters.
1. Introduction
NICT has installed IP cameras in various places for the purpose of watching over the region or monitoring disasters and so on. A video transmission system using solar panels and batteries will be effective where commercial power is not supplied.
In this paper, we report the results of an experiment using a video transmission system installed on the roof of the NICT Resilient ICT Research Center (Sendai) as in case of a commercial power cannot be used.
2. System configuration and experimental results
Figure 1 shows the configuration of this system.
During the day, the charge controller distributes the power generated by the solar panel to power the Raspberry Pi and the camera and to charge the battery, and at night it operates only with power supplied from the battery.
We can also save power by turning ON/OFF the relay switch to stop the power supply only to the camera at night.
Fig.2 shows the graphs of the power generated every one minute by the solar panel with a rated output of 200 W and the amount of solar radiation every 10 minutes from July 25 to August 12, 2022 in Sendai city.
Fig.3 shows the graphs of the power supplied to the system from the battery and the charging power from the solar panel during the day.
From Fig.2, the daily changes in the power generated by the solar panel almost match the changes in the amount of solar radiation in Sendai City. And after the battery is fully charged, it can be seen that power generation of about 10W, which is the total power consumption of the system, continues until around sunset.
From Fig. 3, it can be seen that after the battery is charged with power of several tens of watts in a short period of time, the charging of several watts continues for a while.
3. Issues for future consideration
The stability of system operation shown in Fig.1 throughout the year and how many days the battery will last in the in continuous bad weather are issues to be considered in the future.
Also, considering that the size of the solar panel may be limited to about 1/4 when it is actually installed on site, there is not much power saving effect even if the power supply to the camera is turned off at night. This is because the power consumption of the Raspberry Pi 3 is about 6 to 8 W, while that of the intermittent operation of the camera is about 1W.
Therefore, we will try to consider using a combination of Raspberry Pi 3 and Raspberry Pi 0 as shown in Fig. 4. In other words, about 30 to 40% in total power consumption per day can be reduced if you run only the Raspberry Pi 3 and the camera during the day and only use the Raspberry Pi 0 at night for remote access and for booting the Raspberry Pi 3 every morning.
This method is also an issue for future investigation.
4. Conclusions
We reported the initial experimental results of a video transmission system using solar panels and batteries as a method of installing IP cameras for the purpose of disaster monitoring in places where commercial power is not available.
A system using solar panels and batteries is effective when you want to install a camera in a place without a commercial power supply for the purpose of watching over the area or monitoring disasters.
1. Introduction
NICT has installed IP cameras in various places for the purpose of watching over the region or monitoring disasters and so on. A video transmission system using solar panels and batteries will be effective where commercial power is not supplied.
In this paper, we report the results of an experiment using a video transmission system installed on the roof of the NICT Resilient ICT Research Center (Sendai) as in case of a commercial power cannot be used.
2. System configuration and experimental results
Figure 1 shows the configuration of this system.
During the day, the charge controller distributes the power generated by the solar panel to power the Raspberry Pi and the camera and to charge the battery, and at night it operates only with power supplied from the battery.
We can also save power by turning ON/OFF the relay switch to stop the power supply only to the camera at night.
Fig.2 shows the graphs of the power generated every one minute by the solar panel with a rated output of 200 W and the amount of solar radiation every 10 minutes from July 25 to August 12, 2022 in Sendai city.
Fig.3 shows the graphs of the power supplied to the system from the battery and the charging power from the solar panel during the day.
From Fig.2, the daily changes in the power generated by the solar panel almost match the changes in the amount of solar radiation in Sendai City. And after the battery is fully charged, it can be seen that power generation of about 10W, which is the total power consumption of the system, continues until around sunset.
From Fig. 3, it can be seen that after the battery is charged with power of several tens of watts in a short period of time, the charging of several watts continues for a while.
3. Issues for future consideration
The stability of system operation shown in Fig.1 throughout the year and how many days the battery will last in the in continuous bad weather are issues to be considered in the future.
Also, considering that the size of the solar panel may be limited to about 1/4 when it is actually installed on site, there is not much power saving effect even if the power supply to the camera is turned off at night. This is because the power consumption of the Raspberry Pi 3 is about 6 to 8 W, while that of the intermittent operation of the camera is about 1W.
Therefore, we will try to consider using a combination of Raspberry Pi 3 and Raspberry Pi 0 as shown in Fig. 4. In other words, about 30 to 40% in total power consumption per day can be reduced if you run only the Raspberry Pi 3 and the camera during the day and only use the Raspberry Pi 0 at night for remote access and for booting the Raspberry Pi 3 every morning.
This method is also an issue for future investigation.
4. Conclusions
We reported the initial experimental results of a video transmission system using solar panels and batteries as a method of installing IP cameras for the purpose of disaster monitoring in places where commercial power is not available.