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webcam

Create connection to Raspberry Pi web camera

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Syntax

wcam = webcam(mypi)
wcam = webcam(mypi, cameraName)
wcam = webcam(mypi, cameraIndex)
wcam = webcam(mypi, cameraName, resolution)

Description

wcam = webcam(mypi) creates a connection, wcam, from the MATLAB® software to a web camera that is attached the Raspberry Pi hardware. You can capture still images by using wcam with the snapshot function.

wcam = webcam(mypi, cameraName) allows you to select the camera specified by cameraName. Use this syntax when you have more than one camera connected to the Raspberry Pi hardware.

wcam = webcam(mypi, cameraIndex) allows you to select the camera specified by cameraIndex. Use this syntax when you have more than one camera connected to the Raspberry Pi hardware.

wcam = webcam(mypi, cameraName, resolution) allows you to select the dimensions of the image taken by the camera connected to the Raspberry Pi hardware.

Input Arguments

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Connection to the Raspberry Pi hardware board, specified as a raspi object.

Name string of camera. Optional.

Index of camera. Optional.

String of image dimensions. Optional.

If you do not know the resolutions supported by your camera:

  1. Create a connection, wcam, using this syntax. The connection displays the supported resolutions in the AvailableResolutions property. Note the resolutions displayed.

    wcam = webcam(mypi)

  2. Clear the wcam object. 

    clear wcam

  3. Recreate the wcam object. Provide any of the noted resolutions as input argument.

    wcam = webcam(mypi, cameraName, '160x120')

Output Arguments

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Connection to a Raspberry Pi web camera.

You can use wcam with the following snapshot function.

Properties

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This property is read-only.

Name of your webcam, specified as a character vector. It is specific to each camera.

Example: '/dev/video0'

Data Types: char

Resolution of captured image, specified as a character vector.

Example: '320x240'

Data Types: char

This property is read-only.

Resolutions available on your webcam, specified as a cell array of character vectors.

Example: {'320x240' '640x480'}

Data Types: cell

Examples

Use the Web Camera

You can connect from the MATLAB software to the USB web camera connected to Raspberry Pi board and take a photograph.

Create a connection from the MATLAB to the Raspberry Pi board. If you encounter errors after running the above command, try using additional arguments (as listed in raspi) or refer to Troubleshoot Connecting Issues to Raspberry Pi Hardware.

mypi = raspi;

Create a connection from the MATLAB software to the Raspberry Pi hardware.

mypi = raspi;

Create a connection, wcam, from the MATLAB software to the USB web camera connected to the Raspberry Pi board, and set the image resolution. The connection displays the web camera properties.

wcam = webcam(mypi)
wcam = 

  webcam with properties:

                    Name: "/dev/video0"
              Resolution: "320x240"
    AvailableResolutions: {"320x240"  "640x480"}

Import and display a sequence of 10 snapshots on your host computer. 

for ii = 1:10
    img = snapshot(wcam);
    imagesc(img)
    drawnow
end

Extended Capabilities

See Also

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Topics

External Websites