Remote Guided Camera on Wheels to Explore Rabbit Burrows

How about a WiFi Webcam with a few wheels adapted from a hobby robotics kit?

Good answer....

Any RF system capable of transmitting video will not work underground by more than a few feet...

Tethered is the solution...

If you could find a used Lego Mindstorms robotic kit, it would be close to your budget. It could be autonomous, programed to search the burrow, until it could no longer go forward, and then back out. Wireless web cam, etc.

I'd guess you could find an ordinary RC car that would work, and I think the transmitter would get though a few feet of dirt.

Go see your gastroenterologist for a colonoscopy, and ask if you can borrow his rig.

Keep a spade handy for when reverse will not have enough power to climb back up the hill. Or use a 'Seesnake'

<...Go see your gastroenterologist for a colonoscopy, and ask if you can borrow his rig....>

This looks like a cool site, don't know if wireless would work. The price is right!

http://www.raidentech.com/rc211a-208c-24ghz-ntsc.html

chistianf,

I don't know how well a wireless camera would perform underground. I agree with Tobugrynbak to go with a tethered unit.

X10.com has some inexpensive tethered cameras.

This one says "low light" http://www.x10.com/cameras/sc23a_s.html so I don't know if it would meet your needs. You may also consider some type of LED lighting set-up on the vehicle to provide localized ambient lighting while in the burrow.

I have purchased from X10 in the past. For the price you get a decent camera.

There are other inexpensive wired cameras out there. Try Google and search for hobby and RC model sites. Many of these carry various cameras.

Good luck with your project.

If you see this guy in there, GET OUT!

Ha!

The simple answer to how to guide the camera into the burrow, is to make a wabbitcam. First grabbit, then attach cam to wabbit. Like these.

Willy funny, made me laugh, got 2 get these dam wabbits!

I once needed to look in a sewer pipe. I got a USB camera with about a 6' cord and took it outside with my laptop. I taped the camera to some stiff wire and was able to run it about 5' in the pipe.

This is not exactly what you are asking for, but a laptop and a $29 USB camera will get you a good start. If, by chance, the lazy rabbit has not gone farther than 5' then you are done.

A good place to look for ideas is the Instructables web site, which has about 23 pages of various robotic projects and 6 pages on remote control projects (a quick review did not uncover an particular design directly applicable to your rabbit hole explorer, but several that may incorporate usable ideas for your own design). Look in the "Technology" section.

Another site that might be of intrest to you is the Arduino site. Have a look in their "Playground" section.

Fix a wireless video camera on the back of a rabbit and let it go into rabbit burrow.

I have used miniature wireless camera which weigh about 50g and worked on 9V Duracell battery for almost 1 week. You can get such cameras from spy shops.

My friend Don Golding did manufacture robots with camera mounted on the back for such applications. I find some problem with his website but you can call him or send email.

Don Golding
Angelus Research Corp.
1511 West Tonia CT,
Anaheim, California 92802
Phone (714) 590-7877 Fax (714) 590-7879
sales@angelusresearch.com

http://www.angelusresearch.com/

Get a Ferret and tie a camera to its head.

Have Fun

Mark N.

Here is a site that has many manyfacturers that supply toy, wire-controlled vehicles. You didn't mention the size of the "Rabbit," so you'll have to do the research.

Good Luck in the contest.

P.S.: You can't use a "wireless unit becuase the burrough is too small for the wave length. A whole different discipline that you are not interested in.

You may get your webcam ready and then lay next to the burrow and make a noise like a carrot, and film him as he leaves...in my country when that ole bunny gets ready to leave, he's going to tear up jack..Keep the shovel handy...$150 would fill my pantry for 3 months..Jim

http://www.building-your-model-railroad.com/train-camera.html

Model railroad tv camera.

John

It,s amazing how funny soMe of these answers are. Did not expect any of these thx for all. They probaly thought I was cwazy laughing by myself with my blabewy. Will check all your links Thx again

Must you go WiFi? Considering your going underground, you may lose signal not only to the cam but to your remote control platform as well. With a tether your guaranteed real time images and a means to pull the device out if a) it gets stuck b) loses communication. Use an IR camera and you won't need a light. Simply mount the IR camera on an appropriate RC platform. Cheers "The best solutions are always the simplest"

trap the rabbit. Treat your wife to a candle light dinner of crispy roast rabbit smothered with caramelised shallots and basil in a red wine sauce. The next day, go out and buy yourself a fishing rod and reel for $150.

Rent a Ridgid sewer camera for the day and it will record all the sights for you to keep. These camera are made to go thru water and mud and whatever is in a sewer pipe. $150.00 should cover the rent. Most have about 200' of cable.