Setting aside emulators, arcade clones, supercomputers, and many other projects, one of the most interesting things we can do with a Raspberry Pi is to experiment with optics. 360-degree videos are all the rage today, but the initial investment tends to be prohibitive for most. This new hack from Tinkernut is based on a special panoramic lens for iPhone, and the total cost of the project does not exceed 75 dollars.
The DIY Route to 360 Video
Do you want to record 360-degree video? There are plenty of options on the market, but this is a relatively modern technology, and prices haven't caught up yet. No one in their right mind expects a beginner to invest over $15,000 in something like Odyssey platform from GoPro just to "get started". So the best recommendation is to explore the DIY territory. A bit of code, a recycled lens, a Raspberry Pi 3 and its optional camera will put anyone on the right path who's willing to get their hands dirty. The full tutorial was published by the folks at Tinkernut, and besides all the relevant text, it also includes two videos that help us follow the process better.
What You Need and How to Build It
Everything begins by preparing the Raspberry Pi 3, which includes an OS image on its memory card, installing a couple of codecs, and SimpleCV. The device that generates the panoramic effect is a small lens compatible with the old iPhone 4 called Kogeto Dot. The lens will need to be modified with a Dremel or similar mini-lathe, and Tinkernut offers the necessary files to create an adapter with a 3D printer. Then you transform the Raspberry Pi into a small web server (which enables remote control), activate hotspot mode, record the first video, and remove the natural distortion. The videos can be played with a local tool like GoPro VR Player, or uploaded to YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/twYbzXE6-ZY https://www.youtube.com/embed/_AKJ8IRubNoResults and Cost
As expected, the final results are... humble. The 8-megapixel sensor in version 2 of the optical module compatible with the Raspberry Pi is definitely short, and with the Kogeto Dot, you essentially get what you pay for. Still, the entry point is only 75 dollars, or less if you already have some of the hardware. For an experiment, I think it’s not bad at all.
