Seagull REC User manual

Seagull #REC

User Manual

Product: Seagull #REC

Released: 2021-02-10

FW: 1.0

© 2021 Seagull UAV All Rights Reserved. 2
CONTENTS 
 
GENERAL INFORMATION ................................................................................................................................................................................. 3 
#REC CHANNEL VALUE TABLE ........................................................................................................................................................................ 4 
FLIGHT CONTROLLER / TRANSMITTER INTEGRATION ...................................................................................................................................... 5 
TRANSMITTER................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 5 
PIXHAWK /PIXRACER /ARDUPILOT BASED FC............................................................................................................................................................ 5 
MISSION PLANNER.......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 
DJI FLIGHT CONTROLLERS /A3............................................................................................................................................................................................ 7 
AUTOMATED CAMERA ON / OFF ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7 
PORT / PIN DEFINITIONS................................................................................................................................................................................. 8 
TROUBLESHOOTING........................................................................................................................................................................................ 8 
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS.......................................................................................................................................................................... 8 
 
 

GENERAL INFORMATION

*** Please read this manual thoroughly before connecting and configuring Seagull #REC ***

Seagull #REC is a camera controller, specially designed for Sony branded cameras. For full compatibility list please visit the following

page: https://www.seagulluav.com/rec-compatibility-list/

#REC supports PWM input to control its functions. It is a perfect tool for Aerial Photography, Videography, Surveillance and more -

where utmost control is required of your camera.

#REC features:

•Video Record –START / STOP

•Zooming –IN / OUT with variable speeds

•Shutter Release

•Manual Photo –stages for focus and shutter release

•Camera ON / OFF

•Timelapse –user defined interval for shutter release

•PWM INPUT

•Digital Capture –*shutter release only for Sony camcorders

#REC CHANNEL VALUE TABLE

Setting up and using #REC is very simple. It can be controlled via transmitter or flight controller. Below you will find a table that

illustrates #REC functions, which channels they are allocated to and the values for engaging the functions.

CH.

State / Mode

Value

Range

Record Video

1800 μS

1601 <> 2200 μS

AF-T

1330 μS

1266 <> 1399 μS

IS-T

1200 μS

1132 <> 1265 μS

Digital Capture

1060 μS

1000 <> 1131 μS

Zoom OUT ****

- Speed 1

- Speed 2

- Speed 3

- Speed 4

- Speed 5

- Speed 6

- Speed 7

Zoom IN ****

- Speed 1

- Speed 2

- Speed 3

- Speed 4

- Speed 5

- Speed 6

- Speed 7

1369 μS

1308 μS

1247 μS

1186 μS

1125 μS

1064 μS

1000 μS

1631 μS

1692 μS

1753 μS

1814 μS

1875 μS

1936 μS

2000 μS

1339 <> 1399 μS

1278 <> 1338 μS

1217 <> 1277 μS

1156 <> 1216 μS

1095 <> 1155 μS

1034 <> 1094 μS

850 <> 1033 μS

1601 <> 1661 μS

1662 <> 1722 μS

1723 <> 1783 μS

1784 <> 1844 μS

1845 <> 1905 μS

1906 <> 1966 μS

1967 <> 2200 μS

Manual Photo

- Neutral **

- Focus

- Shutter release

1175 μS

1500 μS

1800 μS

1000 <> 1349 μS

1350 <> 1650 μS

1651 <> 2200 μS

Timelapse

- 1 Second

- 2 Second

- 3 Seconds

- 4 Seconds

- 5 Seconds

- 10 Seconds

- 15 Seconds

- 20 Seconds

1375 μS

1325 μS

1275 μS

1225 μS

1175 μS

1125 μS

1075 μS

1025 μS

1351 <> 1399 μS

1301 <> 1350 μS

1251 <> 1300 μS

1201 <> 1250 μS

1151 <> 1200 μS

1101 <> 1150 μS

1051 <> 1100 μS

1000 <> 1050 μS

Camera On/Off

1800 μS

1605 <> 2200 μS

1, 2, 4

Neutral *

Neutral **

1500 μS

1175 μS

1400 <> 1600 μS

1000 <> 1349 μS

No signal ***

n/a

0 <> 800 μS / 2200 <> ∞μS

* Neutral state has a value of 1500 μS for all modes/states

(except "Manual Photo" mode !)

** Neutral state for "Manual Photo" has value of 1175 μS

*** No signal state will occur when there are no SIGNAL

INPUTS into the #REC’s channels.

**** Zoom is limited to "Speed 1" while recording video with

a still camera because of legal reasons from Sony Corp.

FLIGHT CONTROLLER / TRANSMITTER INTEGRATION

TRANSMITTER

#REC can be controller via transmitters PWM output interface.

If utilizing PWM based receivers simply plug in the channels that you wish to control on #REC into the receiver and adjust the output

values required for activating the functions.

Conversion tables for most common transmitter brands can be found on the following link: https://www.seagulluav.com/transmitter-

pwm-conversion-table/

PIXHAWK / PIXRACER / ARDUPILOT BASED FC

#REC can be connected to a Flight Controller to control functions automatically or setting the Flight Controller to act as a passthrough

for the signal activated by transmitter.

Please note that none of the Ardupilot based flight controllers output power through the rails - therefore #REC needs a power supply.

To achieve this, it is recommended to utilize an external BEC of 5V to ensure proper functionality for #REC or any other accessories.

Below is an illustration of usable channels for connecting #REC for AUTOMATED TRIGGERING:

MISSION PLANNER

If you wish to trigger Seagull #REC from a Flight Controller, setting it up in Mission Planner is also straight forward.

Start Mission Planner and follow the steps below:

1. Click on INITIAL SETUP >> OPTIONAL HARDWARE >> CAMERA GIMBAL

2. "SHUTTER" - in the drop-down list, chose the channel that Seagull #REC CH1 SHUTTER RELEASE channel is connected to.

3. "PUSHED" - Set the "Value" as in the table:

State / Function

Value

Range

NEUTRAL

1500 μS

1400 <> 1600 μS

AF-T

1330 μS

1266 <> 1399 μS

IS-T

1200 μS

1132 <> 1265 μS

4. "NOT PUSHED" –Set the value "1500" ( Neutral state –see table above )

5. "DURATION" –Set the value "1" for AF-T mode or "10" for IS-T mode

(values may vary depending on how long it takes for your specific camera model and lens configuration to lock focus. Try increasing or

decreasing the values to find the sweet spot where the camera can keep up with the duration time that the shutter is held pushed/triggered

for)

DJI Flight Controllers / A3

#REC can be controller via DJI A3 flight controller. It is very easy to setup automated flight photo capturing via DJI Assistant 2

software. For controlling more features of #REC an expansion kit is required, since by default it is not possible to utilize other F ports

and bind them to the channels of LB transmitters.

Below is an example of integrating #REC and configuring via DJI Assistant 2:

AUTOMATED CAMERA ON / OFF

If you wish to integrate "Camera On/Off" into your Survey / Mission plan with Ground control or Mission Planner software, simply

follow the steps below. (Please note that you might need to setup the Flight Controllers channels in the parameters to function as

SERVO/PWM OUTPUT. As well as some of the Sony cameras require the power switch to be set onto ON position –then powered OFF

via #REC command for below scenario to work)

In this scenario we want to turn on the camera after take-off.

NOTE: Repeat the sequence at the end of the mission in order to retract the lenses to protect the mechanism before landing. Very helpful on plane platforms as well as multirotor