Prototype of a Monitoring System Based on the Arduino Platform and the Paradigm of Pan-Tilt Movement
Abstract
The following article presents the implementation of a low cost property security system through the use of the Arduino Uno board, which has a reasonable processing capacity and the ability to manipulate devices that perform functions of robotics and embedded instrumentation. The programming was carried out through the Servo.h library, which follows the Arduino integrated development environment (IDE) and functions designed to read analog and digital signals. The current prototype is formed by a webcam attached to a Pan-Tilt support, composed by two servomotors and being controlled through a 2-axis potentiometer joystick that allows the vertical and horizontal movement of the prototype. The captured images were recorded using software made available by the camera manufacturer. Consequently, the laptop used in the project played the role of a digital network video recorder (NVR) while discarding the need to use a video monitor. In this way, an electronic monitoring system was obtained, capable of functioning as an effective protection instrument.
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Introduction
In recent years there has been a growing wave of violence in urban centers, which demonstrates the fragility of public services, especially those related to security, which come to be seen by society as inefficient in the task of providing citizens with the security necessary to the guarantee of your physical integrity.
Property security is composed of a set of preventive measures to prevent or reduce the loss of assets of certain organizations. Organizations are understood as companies and institutions, as well as condominiums and homes. Property security services include physical barriers, equipment and human resources for the defense of property and the interests of owners. A security system aims to restrict, control and monitor the access of people in union with the public system, which, with legitimacy, can use force in the imprisonment and harassment of property and individual aggressors [7].
Physical barriers are responsible for preventing access to properties. Its effectiveness can be increased with electronic intrusion detection systems and with the use of security guards. The security system must satisfy a functional aspect, which consists of controlling access points and monitoring the flow of people [7].
In this context, electronic monitoring has been presented as an indispensable tool for society, in an effective way of controlling and combating urban violence [6]. It can be said that property security makes it possible to maintain personal and material security in the face of increased crime and discredit by the population before the state public security authorities charged with containing conflicts and maintaining order in society [4].
The security systems have gradually developed over time and, together with this, the installation of camera modules. Among the different types of modules, the following are highlighted: Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) camera modules, modules with Internet Protocol (IP) technology and modules based on Web cameras. CCTV systems can be digital or analog.
Conclusion
The purpose of the prototype developed in this article was to implement a low-cost and a easy-to-handle property security system. For this purpose, the Arduino UNO platform and its ability to control servomotors through a code developed by the authors were used. The servomotors, as they are coupled to a pan-tilt support, allowed mobility in two different axes through the manipulation of the potentiometer joystick. The camera used has an excellent image capacity and when attached to the pan-tilt support, it described a movement similar to a human head, which allows it to efficiently monitor an environment. The images are recorded on a laptop using software provided by the camera manufacturer.
In order to improve the prototype presented in this article, the intention is to use image processing, giving more autonomy to identify incompatible elements with a pre-realized mapping of a given space. In addition, the implementation of communication between Arduino and external components in order to design integrated devices that can function as alarms or to perform the sending and storage of data when the devices are connected to the internet or locally.
The results presented were promising, contributing satisfactorily to the surveillance systems.