Welcome to leanXcam!

This is the project page for the software package distributed for and with the lean linux cam. More information about the development of the camera and how to get one may be found at the page of Supercomputing Systems AG.

Be sure to regularly check out the Blog page for News and interesting tidbits about and around the leanXcam.

Important: If you just got a leanXcam, get started here.

Important: leanXcam can be ordered from this WebShop.

Fun: Live stream of leanXcam on SCS foosball table.

New: Compiling the zbar bar code reader library for leanXcam.

Overview

The leanXcam is an intelligent camera running µClinux on an Analog Devices Blackfin DSP ADSP BF-537 with 500 MHz. The camera has a global shutter CMOS-Sensor with WVGA (752×480) resolution and up to 60 frames/s. The leanXcam is available with a color or a monochrome sensor from this Web Shop. More technical information can be found in the leanXcam Datasheet.

The leanXcam is running an adapted version of Linux, called µClinux, optimized for use on a DSP. The distribution contains many of the well-known Linux tools and applications and is distributed under the GPL.

This project develops and maintains the Oscar Software Framework, which allows the programmer to easily access the hardware of the leanXcam and provides many useful tools that make application development on the camera a lot easier. The software framework and accompanying template applications are licensed under the GNU Lesser General Public License, version 2.1. All documentation and specifications are distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 License.

The board schematics, layout and components are also published in the Download area and are licensed under an open source hardware license.

For further details, check out the Documentation page or search the wiki and forum.

All the software that is needed to develop and run software on the leanXcam can be found on the Software page. This include the U-Boot boot-loader and the μClinux operatingsystem, both as source code and binaries and the source code of the Oscar Software Framework in addition to example applications to give you a smooth start.

Updates and new versions of all software may be found on the Download page.

All specifications, data sheets and print layouts of the leanXcam hardware may be found on the Hardware page.

For new leanXcam hardware, updates to the hardware specifications will be provided on the Download page. The leanXcam can be ordered from this WebShop.

A great deal of the documentation of the leanXcam platform is maintained on the Documentation page.

But some parts, like API descriptions are kept inside the source code of our software and put together with Doxygen documentation system. These parts of the documentation may be downloaded on the Download page.

If you are looking for something in particular, another easy option is to search the wiki and forum.

If you already got a camera, get started here.

Be sure to regularly check out the Blog page for News and interesting tidbits about and around the leanXcam and its community.

leanXcam User Group

A community of leanXcam users is evolving around this web site and the leanXcam User Group mailing list. By collaborating with this community you can help evolving the leanXcam platform and in turn profit from the other's collaboration. Make sure to subscribe to the leanXcam User Group mailing list to receive news about upcoming events and new developments in the world of leanXcam. We're also eager to hear your feedback about the camera. So head over to the forums or contact us to share your experience.

Community applications for download

As the leanXcam community starts building applications, we're happy to host them here and to promote them. Please contact us if you would like to contribute your application to our community and help us to boost the usability of leanXcam. All applications can be found on the Community Applications page. Recent additions are:

• leanXstream: A simple image sequence storing and video streaming server
• leanXzebra: A very fast and efficient barcode reader for leanXcam.
• leanXalarm: A simple but fun surveillance tool which takes pictures whenever something moves and presents these pictures on a web interface.

Community projects on leanXcam

Find out what leanXcam is being used for by people all over the world here.

Sponsoring

Supercomputing Systems is a proud sponsor of a number of academic teams and events. Visit our Sponsoring page to find out more or apply for sponsoring.

Switzerland based Supercomputing Systems, the creator and maintainer of the leanXcam, offers a wide range of services in and around hardware engineering, computer vision and software development. Contact us with your specific problem and we will find a solution together.

Customization

Does your application require some adaptations to the leanXcam? Maybe you need a higher-resolution image sensor or more and differnt I/Os? Maybe you would like a version with a lot of disk space to capture the video feed? Since the hardware is Open-Source you can either make the desired changes and set up the production yourself, or you can profit from our expertise and experience by requesting an offer. We are also able to efficiently implement the required changes to the operating system and potentially the Oscar Software Framework to run smoothly with your new hardware. Furthermore, we offer a number of different licensing options, open as well as closed source, to suit your specific needs.

Development

Do you have a complex vision problem you are not sure how to solve? Does your code on the leanXcam not meet the performance requirements? Our vision experts have years of experience in tackling advanced vision problems and our DSP specialists are happy to help you reach your implementation goals. Contact us here.

Training/Workshops

Supercomputing Systems regularly hosts Workshops teaching basic skills for developing on the leanXcam as well as advanced courses treating a select topic in more depth. Subscribe to the leanXcam User Group mailing list to be notified of upcoming events. We also offer problem-specific consulting on request.