Bumblebee 2 image acquisition problem

Hi I am trying to capture images with a bumblebee 2 stereo camera, however whenever I attempt to declare a video object, I get the error:

"Error using videoinput (line 379)
winvideo: Image acquisition device is not
accessible.
The parameter is incorrect.
Make sure no other objects or applications
are accessing the same device."

The code I am using to declare the video object is:

vid = videoinput('winvideo', 1, 'RGB24_1024x768')

Also, I am not attempting to access the camera using any other application, therefore I do not understand why it shows that it is inaccessible.

Answer 1

[Sarisha]

I found the solution to this problem by installing the drivers from the manufacturer, Point Grey. Thereafter I was able to access each sensor on the camera individually using MATLAB's image acquisition toolbox.

Answer 2

[Image Analyst]

Is this in your code, or by using imaqtool?

[Image Analyst]

Did you see a warning like this when you started imaqtool:

Warning: No Image Acquisition adaptors found. Image acquisition adaptors may be available as downloadable support packages. Open Support Package Installer to install additional vendors.

If so, open the support package and install the OS Generic Video adapter.

[Sarisha]

No, when I open the image acquisition tool, it shows the installed adaptors are: gentl, gige, matrox and winvideo.

But thanks for your reply.

It seems to have been resolved when I restart my computer. I think perhaps the device is becoming locked because of the way the code is written, I'll have to debug this issue.

[Image Analyst]

If it's a stereo camera, do you have to connect to each camera in it, or does the pair of cameras act as a single camera? Is it possible you connected to the same one (e.g. the left one) twice instead of connecting to both the left and right camera?

[Sarisha]

It is a stereo camera. I think the problem was in the declaration of the video object. The image acquisition tool only allows me to access one of the cameras, I am unsure of how to connect to the other camera yet. Do you have an idea of how to do this?

[Image Analyst]

Not really. I'd have to fumble through it just like you. I've only ever talked to one camera before but I know that you can connect to two cameras. My guess is that you'd call videoinput() with a different number for the second input argument and a different name for the returned argument.

vid1 = videoinput('winvideo', 1, 'RGB24_1024x768')
vid2 = videoinput('winvideo', 2, 'RGB24_1024x768')

[Sarisha]

I thought that may work, but when I had a look at the DeviceIDs using:

imaqhwinfo('dcam')

It returns an array with one element. It seems like it only accesses one camera. But there must be a way to switch to the other camera.

Thank you though.

[Image Analyst]

Maybe it treats it as a single camera and gives two images stitched side by side when you call getsnapshot(). Of course you can't even get to that point. Can use use this generic winvideo adapter for just an ordinary run of the mill webcam? Or does even that have trouble?

[Sarisha]

I just tried out the getsnapshot() function and viewed the image with image(); however this also returns a single image. Yeah the winvideo adapter works with my webcam.

I was previously using an adapter provided by Unibrain, but this also only allowed me to access one of the camera sensors. And I installed the software which is provided by Point Grey (who are the manufacturers of the camera) but this causes MATLAB to crash whenever I attempt to access the camera in the image acquisition tool.

[Image Analyst]

I can't really help anymore since I don't even have that camera. You'll have to work it out with the Mathworks and Point Grey.

[Sarisha]

Okay, thank you for your help, I will try that.

[Image Analyst]

In your duplicate question, David said that it should return both images in one. I guess either stitched side-by-side, or interleaved. Call them if that's not the case.

[Sarisha]

Hi, thank you for bringing that to my attention. I actually found the solution to the problem. I installed the Point Grey drivers and accessed each sensor individually.