Control a Camera

This page explains how MAVLink can be used to control a camera. These commands are supported in all versions of ArduPilot:

  • MAV_CMD_DO_DIGICAM_CONTROL to take a picture

  • MAV_CMD_DO_SET_CAM_TRIGG_DIST to take pictures at regular distance intervals

These commands are supported in ArduPilot 4.4.0 and higher:

  • MAV_CMD_IMAGE_START_CAPTURE to take a picture

  • MAV_CMD_SET_CAMERA_ZOOM to control the camera zoom

  • MAV_CMD_SET_CAMERA_FOCUS to manually or automatically focus the camera

  • MAV_CMD_VIDEO_START_CAPTURE to start recording video

  • MAV_CMD_VIDEO_STOP_CAPTURE to stop recording a video

These commands and messages are supported in ArduPilot 4.5.0 and higher:

  • MAV_CMD_CAMERA_TRACK_POINT to initiate tracking of a point on the video feed

  • MAV_CMD_CAMERA_TRACK_RECTANGLE to initiate tracking of a rectangle on the video feed

  • MAV_CMD_CAMERA_STOP_TRACKING to stop tracking

  • MAV_CMD_IMAGE_STOP_CAPTURE to stop tacking time interval pictures

  • CAMERA_FOV_STATUS to display the lat, lon, alt where the camera gimbal is pointing

  • CAMERA_INFORMATION includes vendor and model name, firmware version, etc for use by GCS

  • CAMERA_SETTINGS includes zoom and focus level for use by GCS

These commands are supported in ArduPilot 4.6.0 and higher:

  • MAV_CMD_SET_CAMERA_SOURCE to set which lens (aka image sensor) is used

These commands and messages are not yet supported but may be in future releases

  • MAV_CMD_REQUEST_CAMERA_CAPTURE_STATUS

  • MAV_CMD_RESET_CAMERA_SETTINGS

  • MAV_CMD_SET_CAMERA_MODE

  • MAV_CMD_DO_TRIGGER_CONTROL

  • MAV_CMD_VIDEO_START_STREAMING and MAV_CMD_VIDEO_STOP_STREAMING to start and stop streaming a video to the ground station

  • CAMERA_CAPTURE_STATUS

  • CAMERA_IMAGE_CAPTURED

  • CAMERA_TRACKING_IMAGE_STATUS

  • CAMERA_TRACKING_GEO_STATUS

Note

ArduPilot’s MAVLink interface for controlling cameras was upgraded for 4.4 compared with earlier versions. This page primarily discusses the interface for 4.4 (and higher) which aims to comply with the MAVLink Camera protocol

Note

The user wiki pages for cameras and gimbals is here.

MAV_CMD_DO_DIGICAM_CONTROL to take a picture

A picture can be taken by sending a COMMAND_LONG with the command and param5 fields set as specified for the MAV_CMD_DO_DIGICAM_CONTROL command.

Command Field Type Description
target_system uint8_t System ID of flight controller or just 0
target_component uint8_t Component ID of flight controller or just 0
command uint16_t MAV_CMD_DO_DIGICAM_CONTROL=203
confirmation uint8_t 0
param1 float Session Control (unused)
param2 float Zoom Absolute (unused)
param3 float Zoom Relative (unused)
param4 float Focus (unused)
param5 float Shoot Command=1
param6 float Command Identify (unused)
param7 float Shot ID (unused)

Example

The example commands below can be copy-pasted into MAVProxy (aka SITL) to test this command. Before running these commands enter

  • module load message

Example MAVProxy/SITL Command

Description

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 203 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0

Take a picture

MAV_CMD_DO_SET_CAM_TRIGG_DIST to take a picture at regular distance intervals

A picture can be taken at regular distance intervals by sending a COMMAND_LONG with the command and param fields set as specified for the MAV_CMD_DO_SET_CAM_TRIGG_DIST command.

Command Field Type Description
target_system uint8_t System ID of flight controller or just 0
target_component uint8_t Component ID of flight controller or just 0
command uint16_t MAV_CMD_DO_SET_CAM_TRIGG_DIST=206
confirmation uint8_t 0
param1 float Distance in meters or 0 to stop triggering
param2 float Shutter (unused)
param3 float Trigger camera once immediately. (0 = no trigger now, 1 = trigger now)
param4 float unused
param5 float unused
param6 float unused
param7 float unused

The example commands below can be copy-pasted into MAVProxy (aka SITL) to test this command. Before running these commands enter:

  • module load message

Example MAVProxy/SITL Command

Description

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 206 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0

Take a picture every 10m

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 206 0 10 0 1 0 0 0 0

Take a picture now and then again every 10m

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 206 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Stop taking pictures at regular intervals

MAV_CMD_IMAGE_START_CAPTURE to take a picture

One or more picture can be taken by sending a COMMAND_LONG with the command, param1, param2 and param3 fields set as specified for the MAV_CMD_IMAGE_START_CAPTURE command.

Command Field Type Description
target_system uint8_t System ID of flight controller or just 0
target_component uint8_t Component ID of flight controller or just 0
command uint16_t MAV_CMD_IMAGE_START_CAPTURE=2000
confirmation uint8_t 0
param1 float Camera Id (all=0, 1=1st, 2=2nd)
param2 float Interval in seconds between pics (supported from AP4.5.0)
param3 float Total Images (0=capture forever)
param4 float Sequence Number (unsupported)
param5 float Sequence Number (unsupported)
param6 float unused
param7 float unused

Example

The example commands below can be copy-pasted into MAVProxy (aka SITL) to test this command. Before running these commands enter

  • module load message

Example MAVProxy/SITL Command

Description

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 2000 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0

All cameras take a picture

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 2000 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0

1st camera takes a picture

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 2000 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0

2nd camera takes a picture

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 2000 0 1 2 3 0 0 0 0

1st camera takes 3 pics at 2 sec intervals

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 2000 0 1 5 0 0 0 0 0

1st camera takes unlimited pics at 5 sec intervals

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 2001 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

All cameras stop taking pictures

MAV_CMD_IMAGE_STOP_CAPTURE to stop taking pictures

Stop taking time interval pictures by sending a COMMAND_LONG with the command and param1 fields set as specified for the MAV_CMD_IMAGE_STOP_CAPTURE command.

Command Field Type Description
target_system uint8_t System ID of flight controller or just 0
target_component uint8_t Component ID of flight controller or just 0
command uint16_t MAV_CMD_IMAGE_STOP_CAPTURE=2001
confirmation uint8_t 0
param1 float CameraId (all=0, 1=1st, 2=2nd)
param2 float unused
param3 float unused
param4 float Sequence Number (unsupported)
param5 float Sequence Number (unsupported)
param6 float unused
param7 float unused

Example

The example commands below can be copy-pasted into MAVProxy (aka SITL) to test this command. Before running these commands enter

  • module load message

Example MAVProxy/SITL Command

Description

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 2001 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

All cameras stop taking pictures

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 2001 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

1st camera stops taking pictures

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 2001 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0

2nd camera stops taking pictures

MAV_CMD_SET_CAMERA_ZOOM to control the camera zoom

The camera zoom can be controlled by sending a COMMAND_LONG with the command and param fields set as specified for the MAV_CMD_SET_CAMERA_ZOOM command.

Zoom Type=1 (continuous, aka rate control) is support in 4.4.0 (and higher). Zoom Type=2 (range, aka absolute) is supported in AP 4.5.0 (and higher)

Command Field Type Description
target_system uint8_t System ID of flight controller or just 0
target_component uint8_t Component ID of flight controller or just 0
command uint16_t MAV_CMD_SET_CAMERA_ZOOM=531
confirmation uint8_t 0
param1 float Zoom Type=1 (continous=1, range=2)
param2 float Zoom Value (zoom in=1, zoom out=-1, stop=0 OR 0~100%)
param3 float unused
param4 float unused
param5 float unused
param6 float unused
param7 float unused

The example commands below can be copy-pasted into MAVProxy (aka SITL) to test this command. Before running these commands enter:

  • module load message

Example MAVProxy/SITL Command

Description

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 531 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0

Zoom in

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 531 0 1 -1 0 0 0 0 0

Zoom out

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 531 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

Stop zooming in or out

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 531 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0

Zoom out to 0% (all the way out)

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 531 0 2 100 0 0 0 0 0

Zoom in to 100% (all the way in)

MAV_CMD_SET_CAMERA_FOCUS to manually or automatically focus the camera

The camera zoom can be controlled by sending a COMMAND_LONG with the command and param fields set as specified for the MAV_CMD_SET_CAMERA_FOCUS command.

Command Field Type Description
target_system uint8_t System ID of flight controller or just 0
target_component uint8_t Component ID of flight controller or just 0
command uint16_t MAV_CMD_SET_CAMERA_FOCUS=532
confirmation uint8_t 0
param1 float Focus Type=1 OR 4 (step=0, continous=1, range=2, meters=3, auto=4, auto single=5, auto continuous=6)
param2 float Focus Value (focus in=-1, focus out=1, hold=0)
param3 float unused
param4 float unused
param5 float unused
param6 float unused
param7 float unused

The example commands below can be copy-pasted into MAVProxy (aka SITL) to test this command. Before running these commands enter:

  • module load message

Example MAVProxy/SITL Command

Description

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 532 0 1 -1 0 0 0 0 0

Manual focus in

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 532 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0

Manual focus out

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 532 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

Manual focus hold

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 532 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0

Auto focus

MAV_CMD_SET_CAMERA_SOURCE to set which lens (aka image sensor) is used

The camera zoom can be controlled by sending a COMMAND_LONG with the command and param fields set as specified for the MAV_CMD_SET_CAMERA_SOURCE command.

Command Field Type Description
target_system uint8_t System ID of flight controller or just 0
target_component uint8_t Component ID of flight controller or just 0
command uint16_t MAV_CMD_SET_CAMERA_SOURCE=534
confirmation uint8_t 0
param1 float Camera Id (all=0, 1=1st, 2=2nd)
param2 float Primary Source (0=default, 1=RGB, 2=IR, 3=NDVI, 4=WideAngleRGB)
param3 float Secondary Source (0=default, 1=RGB, 2=IR, 3=NDVI, 4=WideAngleRGB)
param4 float unused
param5 float unused
param6 float unused
param7 float unused

The example commands below can be copy-pasted into MAVProxy (aka SITL) to test this command. Before running these commands enter:

  • module load message

Example MAVProxy/SITL Command

Description

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 534 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

All cameras use default source (e.g. RGB)

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 534 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

1st camera uses default source (e.g. RGB)

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 534 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0

1st camera uses RGB only

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 534 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0

1st camera uses IR/Thermal only

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 534 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0

1st camera uses Picture-in-picture RGB+IR

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 534 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 0

1st camera uses Picture-in-picture IR+RGB

MAV_CMD_VIDEO_START_CAPTURE, MAV_CMD_VIDEO_STOP_CAPTURE to start or stop recording video

To start or stop recording video send a COMMAND_LONG with the command and param fields set as specified for the MAV_CMD_VIDEO_START_CAPTURE or MAV_CMD_VIDEO_STOP_CAPTURE commands.

Command Field Type Description
target_system uint8_t System ID of flight controller or just 0
target_component uint8_t Component ID of flight controller or just 0
command uint16_t MAV_CMD_VIDEO_START_CAPTURE=2500, MAV_CMD_VIDEO_STOP_CAPTURE=2501
confirmation uint8_t 0
param1 float Stream ID (All=0, 1st camera=1, 2nd camera=2)
param2 float Status Frequency (unused)
param3 float unused
param4 float unused
param5 float unused
param6 float unused
param7 float unused

The example commands below can be copy-pasted into MAVProxy (aka SITL) to test this command. Before running these commands enter:

  • module load message

Example MAVProxy/SITL Command

Description

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 2500 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Start recording video on all cameras

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 2500 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

Start recording video on 1st camera

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 2501 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

Stop recording video on all cameras

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 2501 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

Stop recording video on 1st camera

MAV_CMD_CAMERA_TRACK_POINT to start tracking a point on the live video stream

To start tracking a point on the live video stream send a COMMAND_LONG with the command and param fields set as specified for the MAV_CMD_CAMERA_TRACK_POINT commands. The MAV_CMD_CAMERA_STOP_TRACKING can be used to stop tracking.

Command Field Type Description
target_system uint8_t System ID of flight controller or just 0
target_component uint8_t Component ID of flight controller or just 0
command uint16_t MAV_CMD_CAMERA_TRACK_POINT=2004
confirmation uint8_t 0
param1 float Point X (0 to 1, 0 is left, 1 is right)
param2 float Point Y (0 to 1, 0 is top, 1 is bottom)
param3 float Radius (unused)
param4 float unused
param5 float unused
param6 float unused
param7 float unused

The example commands below can be copy-pasted into MAVProxy (aka SITL) to test this command. Before running these commands enter:

  • module load message

Example MAVProxy/SITL Command

Description

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 2004 0 0.5 0.5 0 0 0 0 0

Start tracking a point in the middle of the video stream

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 2004 0 0.1 0.5 0 0 0 0 0

Start tracking a point on the left of the video stream

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 2004 0 0.5 0.1 0 0 0 0 0

Start tracking a point on the top of the video stream

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 2010 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Stop tracking

MAV_CMD_CAMERA_TRACK_RECTANGLE to start tracking a rectangle on the live video stream

To start tracking a rectangle on the live video stream send a COMMAND_LONG with the command and param fields set as specified for the MAV_CMD_CAMERA_TRACK_RECTANGLE commands. The MAV_CMD_CAMERA_STOP_TRACKING can be used to stop tracking.

Command Field Type Description
target_system uint8_t System ID of flight controller or just 0
target_component uint8_t Component ID of flight controller or just 0
command uint16_t MAV_CMD_CAMERA_TRACK_RECTANGLE=2005
confirmation uint8_t 0
param1 float Top Left X (0 to 1, 0 is left, 1 is right)
param2 float Top Left Y (0 to 1, 0 is top, 1 is bottom)
param3 float Bottom Right X (0 to 1, 0 is left, 1 is right)
param4 float Bottom Right Y (0 to 1, 0 is top, 1 is bottom)
param5 float unused
param6 float unused
param7 float unused

The example commands below can be copy-pasted into MAVProxy (aka SITL) to test this command. Before running these commands enter:

  • module load message

Example MAVProxy/SITL Command

Description

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 2005 0 0.4 0.4 0.6 0.6 0 0 0

Start tracking a rectangle in the middle of the video stream

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 2005 0 0.0 0.4 0.2 0.6 0 0 0

Start tracking a rectangle in the left portion of the video

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 2005 0 0.4 0.0 0.6 0.2 0 0 0

Start tracking a rectangle in the upper portion of the video

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 2005 0 0.8 0.4 1.0 0.6 0 0 0

Start tracking a rectangle in the right portion of the video

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 2005 0 0.4 0.8 0.6 1.0 0 0 0

Start tracking a rectangle in the lower portion of the video

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 2010 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Stop tracking

CAMERA_INFORMATION, CAMERA_SETTINGS, CAMERA_FOV_STATUS include information useful for GCSs

These three messages include information that can be useful for the ground station.

  • CAMERA_INFORMATION includes vendor and model name, firmware version, sensor size, sensor resolution and camera capabilities.

  • CAMERA_SETTINGS is much simpler and only includes the mode, zoom level and focus level.

  • CAMERA_FOV_STATUS includes the location (lat, lon, alt) of the camera (or more accurately the vehicle), the location of what the camera gimbal is pointing at and the camera attitude (expressed as a quaternion).

A ground station can request the messages be sent just once using the MAV_CMD_REQUEST_MESSAGE command or at regular intervals using MAV_CMD_SET_MESSAGE_INTERVAL as described on the Requesting Data From The Autopilot page.

The example commands below can be copy-pasted into MAVProxy (aka SITL) to test this command. Before running these commands enter:

  • module load message

Example MAVProxy/SITL Command

Description

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 512 0 259 0 0 0 0 0 0

Request CAMERA_INFORMATION be sent once

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 512 0 260 0 0 0 0 0 0

Request CAMERA_SETTINGS be sent once

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 511 0 260 1000000 0 0 0 0 0

Request CAMERA_SETTINGS be sent once per second

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 511 0 260 -1 0 0 0 0 0

Request CAMERA_SETTINGS stop being sent

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 512 0 271 0 0 0 0 0 0

Request CAMERA_FOV_STATUS be sent once

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 511 0 271 1000000 0 0 0 0 0

Request CAMERA_FOV_STATUS be sent once per second

message COMMAND_LONG 0 0 511 0 271 -1 0 0 0 0 0

Request CAMERA_FOV_STATUS stop being sent