Rana is a motion-activated recording system which is loosely based on the frog visual system, i.e., if its blobby and it moves, Rana will be able to detect it. Rana is a combination of logger hardware and a computer software application, all bundled with a Linux operating system.
Anybody who wants to record things which move. For example, pest exterminators, security companies, and ecologists would all benefit from using the Rana system.
Rana monitors a camera to detect “frames of motion” (e.g., frames in which a substantial number of pixels in that frame differ from the previous frame and in which these motion-pixels are concentrated into a small area, “the blob”). These motion frames are combined into digital movies which can be subsequently viewed using standard digital video editing suites (e.g., Virtualdub or Avidemix) or movie view tools such as Microsoft media player or the open source VLC viewer).
It can be set up for many actions including:
If you want something which is not included on the above list, it may be possible to easily adapt the system to suit your requirements. If so, please contact us.
Yes, Rana provides a comprehensive web-based control interface with which the camera can be controlled.
Certainly, Rana streams the camera output in a format which can be viewed via a web browser, e.g., Safari or Google Chrome.
Rana will work with any standard webcam. Obviously, the higher the specification of the camera, the better the result. For example, for routine monitoring of invertebrates (e.g., bees, butterflies, etc.), high end USB webcams such as the Philips SPC1330 will give very good results.
Yes, the number of cameras is limited only by the CPU speed of the logger and the number of USB ports it possesses. Typically, a logger using ARM or Intel Atom processors can handle 2 to 3 cameras.
This depends on the camera used (and to an extent the processor in the data logger as well). With a high end webcam and Intel Atom hardware, image frames of up to 1280 pixels x 960 pixels can be acquired (at a frame rate of 90 frames per second).
Yes, the bigger the frames the longer they take to process: if you want to detect transient events at very high resolution, a typical Atom or Arm based logger is only able to handle a single camera.
Yes, Rana is a “fire and forget” solution. Once set up, it can be left running in the field for months at a time. The length of time Rana can operate unattended is only limited by the disk size of the logger running it and the power constraints of the logger.
Yes, Rana has been designed to deploy in remote locations. We have developed a battery system which allows the logger to run remotely in the field using relatively inexpensive vehicle lead acid batteries. Currently, systems can run unattended in the field for up to a week. With lower power loggers this could be extended to a month or more.
None, other than a video editor suite or digital movie viewing tool. VLC, Microsoft Media Viewer, Avidemux, and Virtualdub are all appropriate tools. If you intend to view streamed output from the video cameras in real time, you will need a web browser which supports this such as Safari or Google Chrome.
Yes, Rana is a Linux/μLinux application. These operating systems will be bundled with the application on loggers supplied by Tumbling Dice.
Yes, the software component is a portable C application. This means it can be run on low power FPGA and ARM based kit optimised for remote field use. Some of these low power systems can be continuously recharged using an array of solar cells which means they could be deployed in the field indefinitely. Tumbling Dice is happy to discuss specific requests of this nature with clients.
Yes, objects in frames captured by Rana can be passed to applications like Daisy or Mensor for downstream identification.
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