Yes, you read the headline correctly. My helmet has a visual feature to it that includes night vision. Here we go:
I, as many of us, have been knocking my head up against the drawing board trying to figure out a visual component to either add to the inside of the helmet on the lens, a HUD, or adding a working display to the rangefinder. Something that not only looks cool and appropriate but is functional as well. I had a number of ideas and prototype some of them will some success but nothing that was easily repeatable.
Then, as my search continued… I got an idea from my kids. Well, not “from them” but more “because” of them. I have a nice little chill spot at my house with a fire pit that is fenced off and very adult friendly. The children are typically inside (supposed to be asleep) and completely out of sight. Perfect situation to add a monitor to make sure they don’t wake up and get into any trouble. (Which I might add they do… found my youngest in the kitchen eating salad one night and salad dressing EVERYWHERE. Yeah… no.)
So I took that concept and said, hey… what about those small, nanny cams they make. A search landed me on a plethora (El Guapo nod) of options. One in particular caught my attention.
Purchased off the eBay for under $40. The camera sends out a wifi that my phone (iPhone or Android works) picks up. There is an app for the camera that displays the camera feed in real time. I can take pictures or record video and because it is intended to be a small camera to observe a dark room (in case the littles wake up and try to escape the crib) it has a good night vision option
Here’s the camera:
There is another camera I optioned as well, roughly the same price. It has a higher resolution, much much smaller but no night vision. It would be PERFECT to integrate into a range finder. It works the same way in that it puts out a wifi signal that you phone pics ups via an app. (also iPhone & android compatible)
Left Gauntlet will be for ‘comms’ (it will have a cover on it, the cover will open and allow me to see the display. I am creating an additional overlay that will sit on top of my phone with a printed graphic that will change the appearance of the phone to look like a SWarzy display as well):
The full WIP for my gauntlet will be on a separate thread that I am starting in the next couple days. Link will be in my signature.
So I went all in and began cutting into the helmet for mounting point that helps make the camera sit in and appear as intentionally part of it. I am working on an added piece that will attach by clipping on and appear as part of the camera/ear piece so that it looks even less like a camera and more like part of the antenna. This is all done in a manner that still allows me to swap it out for the rangefinder I built as well (you can view that on my helmet WIP)
The antenna piece added will close up the gaps and make everything seamless. There's some more sanding that I need to do to deck everything and make it sit flush.
(Even though you can see a little in this pic, I removed all the markings and words from the camera casing)
Here's a quick video of the night vision.
http://s61.photobucket.com/user/gofettyourselfgofettyourself/media/813E6FE5-27AF-4634-9EDD-4EFD9410FC6D_zpsctnwzmor.mp4.html.
I'll get some better footage of day & night outside this weekend.
It’s not the highest resolution transmitting over wifi… but it definitely works. The night vision DEFINITELY works. And the whole thing is not only fun, but functional. Rechargeable battery and the option to record on SD card make it even better.
I love the idea that I can turn on night vision and have it display wireless-ly on my gauntlet. Gain a survey of the environment at night, record the footage using ‘an added tool not connected to my actual helmet’ and then close the display door and move on with my “recon mission” so to speak. However I am working on an option that will allow me to have a visual display from within my helmet as well. I’m hacking my way through a pair of personal cinema glasses. They are $80-$100 depending on the version and marketplace. Much more affordable than google glass option. The LCD screen display portion actually detaches from the glasses part. I would have to run a cord through the inside of my neck seal and suit and to my gauntlet. Turn the camera on, turn on the app, then the LCD’s display in real time whatever is being displayed on my phone (hidden in the gauntlet). Something I’ll play with but still like the gauntlet approach because I can share the experience with others.
Here are the glasses.
That’s about it. Aside from the phone, the cost for this was $30-40 taxed and shipped. Some time for the mod to the helmet, some extra Velcro, and scarp sintra and a greeble or two. I’ll update the post when I finish the antenna part.
Thanks for reading! Comments and questions always welcomed.
