Two Cameras on One Pi?

[StevenK]

I am interested in doing a project involving aerial photography that would require mounting two cameras on a quad-copter that could take simultaneous images. I wanted to find out if this is possible and, if so, the simplest way to accomplish it. Weight is an issue and I would want to minimize it, so the main issue would be whether I could run the two cameras off of one Pi. I have a RPi 2B and an RPi Zero. It would be great to save weight using the Zero, but I imagine it would be more difficult to run two cameras on it. One camera I am thinking of using is the Infragram DIY Plant Analysis Webcam, which is USB ... so I thought I may be able to use that and also a camera board on the Pi2. I am a beginner, though, and this is my first RPi project, so I'd be interested to hear thoughts and ideas on how I can accomplish this, and issues I should be aware of. I'd also be interested in thoughts on battery power (I only need 20-30 minutes of operating time) Thanks!

[mahjongg]

Maybe its an idea to use the compute module, as it supports two PI-cams, there is also firmware that can handle both PI-cams at the same time, and for example can combine both pictures in one video stream.

[mikronauts]

Easiest would be a Compute Module, with its development board, and the additional camera adapter kit.

I am interested in doing a project involving aerial photography that would require mounting two cameras on a quad-copter that could take simultaneous images. I wanted to find out if this is possible and, if so, the simplest way to accomplish it. Weight is an issue and I would want to minimize it, so the main issue would be whether I could run the two cameras off of one Pi. I have a RPi 2B and an RPi Zero. It would be great to save weight using the Zero, but I imagine it would be more difficult to run two cameras on it. One camera I am thinking of using is the Infragram DIY Plant Analysis Webcam, which is USB ... so I thought I may be able to use that and also a camera board on the Pi2. I am a beginner, though, and this is my first RPi project, so I'd be interested to hear thoughts and ideas on how I can accomplish this, and issues I should be aware of. I'd also be interested in thoughts on battery power (I only need 20-30 minutes of operating time) Thanks!

[gordon77]

It appears you can buy the filter you need so hopefully it will work on a pi camera, or maybe the pi noir would be better for one of the cameras.

[StevenK]

That's a good suggestion, it looks like the compute module development kit may be a good choice. Unfortunately, it's more expensive ($100 US + shipping for the module and kit, + the camera module adapters) and I imagine it's probably heavier than a standard Pi (and much heavier than the Zero) But at least it should work. Would be nice to be able to do it on a standard Pi or Zero, but the more I look, the more I am thinking it is not possible.

[Laurens-wuyts]

You can also program the compute module with the board in the kit, and then use a separate (own made) board with just 2 camera connectors.

Laurens

[StevenK]

You can also program the compute module with the board in the kit, and then use a separate (own made) board with just 2 camera connectors.

That sounds a bit more complicated (I'm pretty new to this and don't know how to design circuit boards), but it's an interesting idea to look into that no doubt would reduce weight.