The Chronos 1.4 Camera is getting its first firmware update from 0.1 to 0.2 to add a few feature, correct a few bugs and some interface changes. The update is recommended for all owners and it is very easy to install. Be sure to have a FAT32 formatted USB stick in order to perform the update as it needs the root directory for file discovery.
We applied the update on our camera and were pleasantly surprised that the actual software update did not need the camera to be turned off after. It seems that the Chronos team is making updates on the internal SD memory and not on a firmware chip which also means you cannot brick the camera by updating. Very cool feature!
Chronos 1.4 0.2 Software update post:
By Krontech.ca:
Here’s the first software update!
Available here: http://forum.krontech.ca/index.php?topic=38.msg257
Not a huge amount in this one, basically a few features requested by a few scientific users, and a bunch of low-hanging fruit . More major updates will probably have to wait until after the backlog of Kickstarter rewards and store preorders have shipped since it’s so busy leading up to production. Once we hire a software engineer, updates will be much more frequent and significant.
Features added and bugs fixed:
- Added Triggered Exposure and Shutter Gating modes
- Fixed bug where video can be saved to the mount point if no storage device is present
- Fixed minimum exposure time (now 1uS instead of an impossible 10ns)
- Added “About” tab to Util window, showing software version, serial number, and camera info
- Added missing backer Jared Reabow in backers list
- Added support for LUX1310 image sensor silicon revision 2
- Fixed incorrect bitrate computation in save settings window
- Disabled H264 profile and level controls (certain lower levels caused encoder to crash)
- Fixed incorrect shutter slider and exposure text after changing resolution
- Fixed incorrect updating of ROI indicator in Record Settings
- Fixed allowable range of window offset to proper multiples (16, 2). Record settings would not be applied if offset was set other than proper multiple
- Moved close button on keyboard to bottom right
- Changed arrows on keyboard from text eg. “Up” to unicode arrow characters
Known bugs in added features:
- Horizontal line issue is present in Triggered Exposure and Shutter Gating modes, to be fixed
Chronos 1.4 Update Procedure:
-Unzip the Zip file into the root directory of a FAT32 formatted USB stick-Unzip the Zip file into the root directory of
-Unzip the Zip file into the root directory of a FAT32 formatted USB stick This should result in a camUpdate folder in the root directory of the stick
-Boot up the camera and insert the USB stick-Backup your calibration data. Tap “Backup calibration data” and wait for this to complete (about 5 seconds). The cal data is now backed up on the USB drive as cal_[serial number].tar
-To install the update, tap Apply Software Update
-A message box should pop up indicating the software update was found. Tap Yes to install the update.
-The screen will go blank for a few seconds, then the updated application will start.
-Done! No need to restart the camera.
What if something goes wrong?
Don’t worry, it’s impossible to brick the camera. If the update fails for some reason and the camera won’t boot, you can reflash the OS SD card yourself to recover the camera. If you need the image file to do this, let us know. It’s just like flashing the OS card for a Raspberry Pi. You will need to restore the backed up calibration data after reflashing the card. If you don’t have a backup, we have a copy of the original factory cal, available on request.
Next updates in the pipeline:
- Proper trigger delay setting (Timeline/slider, pretrigger percentage, and setting by time rather than frames)
- Remembering settings across reboots
- Indication of dropped frames on save
- Proper boot splash screen
HSC’s Take- So there you have it, updates will probably be more fluid once the software engineer is dedicated to improving the camera. The painless update process is also welcome and the separation from a firmware chip makes it easier to try new things without bricking the camera. A re-flash of the internal memory card is all that is needed if you run into trouble by reverting to stock software. The software will probably be very different in a few months with all sorts of bells and whistles. We are excited for the future of the Chronos 1.4 and other cameras that may come down the pipeline from krontech.ca.
We took the camera out for a quick test with firmware 0.2 and found it to be stable and with no issues. We like the new improvements and really are eager to see what the camera will become with improvements. The software is a work in progress and will become much more powerful as a scientific and all around shooter as it matures.
We took the camera out for a quick test with firmware 0.2 and found it to be stable and with no issues. We like the new improvements and really are eager to see what the camera will become with improvements. The software is a work in progress and will become much more powerful as a scientific and all around shooter as it matures.
Our quick unprocessed footage below from Firmware 0.2:
Chronos 1.4 – Butterflies & Moths Test Software 0.2:
For more information about the Chronos 1.4 Camera and how to order one visit the official website at: http://www.krontech.ca/