MotionGrabber is a family of very powerful, yet low cost portable high-speed video acquisition system with a choice of monochrome or colour cameras with frame rates up to 300fps for industrial troubleshooting, machine monitoring and general industrial and scientific applications.
The MotionGrabber is a turnkey system, consisting of a base set of camera and software with lighting, mounting hardware and computer. An extensive range of options are available to match the system to a wide range of industrial and scientific video recording applications.
Applications
- Troubleshooting automated machinery
- Test and fine-tuning automation mechanics
- Unattended machine monitoring
- Elite sports and training
- Biomechanics research
- Motion analysis
Advantages
- Turnkey video recording system with camera, pre-installed computer, lighting and mounts in a rugged hard-shell case
- Easy to set up and operate
- Many advanced features for the experienced user
- Free software update service
- Superior local support and service
The MotionGrabber software has a simple and easy to learn user interface for problem-free use on the factory floor, yet has many advanced features, making it possible to record high-quality slow motion videos in many difficult situations. No other system on the market offers this versatility while maintaining fast and easy setup and use.
High sensitivity cameras
MotionGrabber is available in four different standard cameras, all in either mono or colour version:
- MotionGrabber 90: Low-cost CCD camera with 90fps at 0.33Mpixel for applications with modest speed and resolution requirements
- MotionGrabber 30: High-resolution CCD camera with 25fps at 2Mpixel
- MotionGrabber 200: Our standard CCD camera with 200fps at 0.3 Mpixel and optimal balance between light sensitivity, image quality and frame rate.
- MotionGrabber 300: High-speed CMOS camera with 300fps at 0.4Mpixel New!
All the CCD cameras feature superior dynamic range with 8 or 12 bit data depth, autoexposure and auto white balance (for colour cameras), while the CMOS camera is available with 8 bit output data.
High-speed video recording continuously to disk
With the Motiongrabber system, you do not have to make hard choices between resolution, frame rate and recording time. The MotionGrabber software has the unique capability of being able to stream full-quality high-speed video directly to disk on an ordinary desktop or laptop computer.
Trigger features
To avoid getting swamped by long videos sequences with nothing of interest, MotionGrabber can operate in triggered mode, catching those rare events that are easily missed. The trigger event can be a signal from the PLC, a photocell or any other sensor. When a trigger is received, Motiongrabber will save the latest seconds or minutes of video up to the time the trigger was detected. Unlike other systems, you are not limited by camera or PC memory, only by the capacity of your hard disk.
Image-based and sound triggering
When an electrical trigger signal is not available, MotionGrabber can trigger by real time analysis of the video stream (Motion Detection module) or by detection of sound level from any microphone, connected to the PC sound card (Audio Trigger module). No special hardware is required.
Auto-save
The auto-save mode is used for automatic or unattended high-speed video monitoring. When a machine error occurs and triggers the system, video of the events prior to or after the error is automatically saved on disk in a user-specified format. Immediately after, MotionGrabber reverts to recording mode, ready for the next event.
Auto-gain and auto-exposure
MotionGrabber can automatically adjust the camera gain and exposure time to adapt to varying lighting conditions, so that every image is correctly exposed. This is especially useful for outdoor recordings or other situations with uncontrolled lighting conditions.
Full camera control
The user has full control of all camera parameters such as gain, exposure time, frame rate etc. For example, you can freely choose the exposure time to reduce motion blur, or optimize the sensor gain for best compromise between sensitivity and noise.
You can also select between running the camera with a fixed frame rate, or a frame rate synchronized to an external signal, eg from a rotary encoder.
Main features
- Choice between CCD or CMOS colour or mono cameras with GigE interface
- Record up to 300fps in VGA resolution, up to 1000fps in reduced size
- Pre-trigger recording: Record events after they have happened
- Record continuous high speed video for hours directly to disk, even on a laptop
- Image-based and audio triggering: trigger without external sensor (option)
- Free selection between compressed or uncompressed video format
- Automatic file naming and saving
- Extensive control of camera parameters: gain, exposure, synchronization
- Battery-option for complete portability
- Exposure time down to 25 µs
- Selection between 8 or 12 bit image data (option)
- Precise time stamping of each single image
- Standard Ethernet camera cabling up to 100m length
- 24 digital IO channels for start, stop, event marking or alert output
- Versatile trigger options: external TTL or PLC signals, wireless, long-range radio
Options
The MotionGrabber system consists of a base set with camera and software and accessories, with additional optional components tailored to individual user requirements.
Contact us for information on the available configurations.
Base system
The base system consists of a highly sensitive monochrome CCD camera with frame rate up to 205fps at VGA (640x480pixel) resolution or a CMOS camera with up to 300fps, also in VGA resolution, CD with system software, USB IO box with hand trigger cable, a varifocal 10 – 40 mm objective, cables and power supply. |
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Camera objectives
Wide angle, normal and tele objectives
Remote-controlled zoom objectives
Fixed and zoom objectives
Macro and microscope objectives
Boroscopes |
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Alternative cameras
A range of alternative cameras with different resolutions and speed are available for the system, for example:
Full 1080 HDTV colour at 30fps, Bayer or 3CCD sensors
CMOS 1.3Megapixel at 170 fps, mono
CMOS 1.3Megapixel at 500fps , mono or colour (desktop PC only)
CMOS 2Megapixel up to 340fps, mono or colour (desktop PC only) |
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Camera housings and mounts
Protective housings for harsh indistrial environments.
All-stainless steel housings for corrosive environments or for use in food or phamaceutical manufacturing applications.
Splash-proof housings with heater or cooler for outdoor use
Fully watertight housings for underwater use
Manual or motorized pan and tilt mounts |
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Software options
12 bit image support
The 12 bits of data from the camera can be mapped by a user-defined Look-Up-Table (LUT) to 8 bits of data, compatible with a PC display and the AVI file formats. This allows high-contrast imagery to be displayed by the PC monitor and saved to AVI. Typical LUTs are Gamma/contrast/brightness and bilinear (knee LUT).
Pseudocolour display
The optional colour remapping module allows display of monochrome video data in colour through a user-defined pseudocolour mapping function. This display mode is particularly useful to enhance small grey-scale differences in monochrome images and for use with thermal cameras.
Image-based triggering
MotionGrabber can trigger recording by analyzing the video images in real time for situations where a TTL trigger is not available. When the grey levels inside user-defined windows change beyond set limits, a trigger is issued to start or stop recording.
Audio Trigger
Trigges an event by detection of the sound level on a microphone, connected to the PC sound input |
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Lighting options
Halogen lights
Low cost reflector lamps with diffusing glass from 100 to 2000W
Focused high-efficiency halogen lights and HMI lights
Fore more details, see the Light Sources section |
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LED lights
Continuous or strobe LED lights with high power efficiency and low heat dissipation.
Wash-down lights for harsh or sterile environments
For more details, see the Light Sources section |
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Mounting options
Stands
Free standing camera and light stands with 3D or video heads |
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Magic arms
Magic arms with 2 or 3 sections for clamping to pipes and non-magnetic structures. |
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Magnetic mounts
with articulated arms for mounting on magnetic steel surfaces |
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Computer options
Laptop with Gigabit Ethernet port
Portable (lunchbox) PC with PCIe bus
Desktop or rack PC
Tablet touch screen PC
Ruggedized laptops with Solid State Disk |
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Trigger and timing options
Isolated IO box
USB connected IO box with 4 opto-isolated input ports that can be connected to 24V logic signals for triggering acquisition directly from standard industrial sensors or PLC outputs. High-current loads can be driven from 4 relay outputs. |
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USB pulse generator
USB-connected pulse generator, which can be used to generate synchronization signals for precise control of camera frame rate. Ideal for use with cameras without programmable frame rate and for synchronizing multiple cameras. Includes 8 IO lines for hardware triggering. |
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Two-channel synchronization controller
The Labsmith LC220 is ideal for precise and programmable timing of video recordings to external events or for synchronizing multiple cameras. Many different timing functions can easily be set up, like frequency division, delay sweep, pulse bursts etc. The LC220 with TroublePix or StreamPix can be used for tasks like:
- Synchronize video recording and analog data acquisition with precisely related sampling frequency and frame rate (several analog samples per image)
- Synchronise slow and fast cameras with fixed ratio between frame rates
- Synchronize video recording to periodic events, e. g. rotating machinery
- Record high-speed periodic phenomena with low frame rate cameras (video stroboscopy)
- Use TTL signals to gate video recording
For more details on the LC220, see
2-Channel Experiment Controller |
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Wireless triggering with 30 m range
Remote-control style wireless trigger device with four programmable buttons, which can be used to start and stop recording and for event marking. Includes remote control and USB receiver. |
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Radio Trigger with 100m range
Wireless trigger set with range of over 100 m outdoors. Used in conjunction with the USB IO box as a long range wireless connection between a trigger switch and the PC. |
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SMS and email alert devices
Sends sms or email messages over GSM when an event triggers the camera |
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