PhotonVision

What is PhotonVision

PhotonVision Docs

• This year (2025) we used Arducam Cameras

PhotonVision is a vision processing solution for FRC. This is the software that we use to detect AprilTags.

How to Configure in PhotonVision

1. Open PhotonVision Settings: Navigate to the cameras page in PhotonVision.

2. Select Camera Model: Select the proper camera. Use the Arducam model selector to specify the model of each Arducam camera connected to your system.

3. Save Settings: Ensure that you save the settings after selecting the appropriate camera model for each device.

Camera Calibration

Camera Calibration Docs

• If you are not using 3D mode, calibration is not necessary but can still help, however, we do use 3D mode so you should always calibrate.

1. Print the calibration target. You want to use a Charuco calibration board.

2. Make sure the board is completely flat with no wrinkles or bends or else it could mess up your calibration.

3. Start taking pictures of the board from various angles.

4. Once you get the desired amount of data, select "Finish Calibration."

Once you're finished the mean pixel error displayed should be a number less than 1, around 0.6-0.8. You also want to press the 'i' next to the camera and export the calibration data as a JSON file.

Calibration Tips

1. Make sure you have good lighting.

2. Try to get as many pictures as possible of as many angles as possible (Don't tilt more than 45 degrees). Also ensure that the target overlay still lines up with the board.

3. Take at least 12 photos, this is the bare minimum and will not yield the best results, more is better.