Request for Assistance: E-Con Systems Camera Not Functioning on Balena Fin v1.1

Project help
1

I am a college student experiencing difficulties getting the E-Con Systems camera (Global Shutter Raspberry Pi Camera) to work with my Balena Fin v1.1. While the camera operates successfully on the Raspberry Pi 4, where it captures images without issues, the Balena Fin v1.1 is showing a “camera timeout” error and is not saving any images. This inconsistency raises concerns about compatibility or configuration between the camera and the Balena Fin.

  • Hardware: Balena Fin v1.1
  • Camera Module: E-Con Systems camera (Global Shutter Raspberry Pi Camera)
  • Working Setup: Raspberry Pi 4 with the same camera and software setup
  • Software: Balena OS-based application for camera capture

Observations

  1. Camera Functionality on Raspberry Pi 4:
  • The E-Con Systems camera captures images successfully.
  • Log outputs indicate successful image capture.
  1. Camera Functionality on Balena Fin v1.1:
  • Receiving a “camera timeout” message in the logs.
  • No images are being saved.

Steps Taken

  • Followed the same Dockerfile and startup scripts from the repository.
  • Upgraded the firmware on the Balena Fin v1.1 as required for compatibility with the camera.
  • Verified that the E-Con Systems camera works properly on the Raspberry Pi 4.

Logs

  • Raspberry Pi 4 Logs:
    • Successfully captures images (log file attached).
  • Balena Fin v1.1 Logs:
    • Encountering “camera timeout” issue (log file attached).

Additional Notes

  • The firmware upgrade on the Balena Fin v1.1 was completed via the serial console, as there is no dashboard mechanism available for this operation.

Request for Assistance

  • Could you provide insights into potential compatibility issues between the Balena Fin v1.1 and the E-Con Systems camera?
  • Are there specific configurations or additional steps needed for the camera to work properly on the Balena Fin?
  • Any suggestions for debugging the timeout issue would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your assistance, and I look forward to your guidance on this matter!

2

Hello, I see that the camera specifications mention “Raspberry Pi 4” compatibility. Please note that depending on the compute module in your balenaFin, it is basically a Pi 3 or 3B+. If the camera requires a Pi 4 it probably won’t work with the Fin.

If you can provide more details such as the following we may be able to provide more guidance:

  • If you are able, please post your Dockerfile so we can take a look.
  • The log file you mentioned does not appear to be attached, so please try posting again.
  • Do you have any kernel modules or overlays for the camera?
  • Which firmware did you update on the Fin? Was it for the co-processor and if so, how is that utilized by the camera? (you mentioned it was required for compatibility)