144 replies to this topic

[artik]

Hello dear CN members,

 

After a year long development free and open source application -  OpenLiveStacker is now available at Google Play Store 

 

OpenLiveStacker at Google Play: https://play.google....openlivestacker

Manual: https://github.com/a...-Stacker-Manual

GitHub Project: https://github.com/a...OpenLiveStacker

Out of Google Play releases: https://github.com/a...tacker/releases

 

What is OpenLiveStacker?

 

For a long time I was interested in EAA, I looked for a simple rig that would simplify the task to a minimum.

Something that you can easily assemble and take out in a few minutes for an electronic observing session.

 

Taking a full rig of mount, telescope with an additional laptop or mini PC with an additional power source makes it quite complicated and  "grab-and-go" capabilities of such a rig my be quite limited.

 

So I had an idea of attaching the actual astronomical camera to a tablet and running the stacking/EAA software on the tablet itself.

Finally we all have quite a capable computation device in out hands.

 

 

For about a year me and some of my friends have been testing and developing the application.

 

So what we got so far:

 

Supported Cameras

 

• ASI ZWO
• ToupTek and Meade based on ToupTek
• DSLR/DSLM vis using libgphoto2 (same library as in Indi and ASIAir)
• USB Video class devices - like sv105
• Android camera 

 

Here some of the supported features:

 

• Live stacking with darks, flats and dark flats
• Auto and manual stretching
• Plate solving using ASTAP
• Accessing the UI remotely via browser.

 

Additional Notes

 

I will continue to update releases on both Google Play and via GitHub. 

This app isn't for Android only - it is general Linux application you can use on any Linux computer including PI.

[Prasad]

Sounds great! Thanks for your work and contribution to EAA

[Xeroid]

Well, I dived in head first.....

 

Downloaded and installed on a Lenovo P11 Plus Android v 12 with 6GB RAM, 128 GB ROM, 2000 x 1200 Display, MediaTek CPu

 

Really a fast and very stable tablet.

 

Connected a ZWO ASI 178MC with USB-C cable and selected ASI with 60mm Guide Scope.

 

Ran the program and tried 1 ms, 10 ms, 100 ms all at 180 gain...

 

Was late afternoon, very cloudy sky.

 

Hit the Stream button and get a GREEN SCREEN filled with dots..

 

Yes, its obvious I'm doing something wrong...

Edited by Xeroid, 27 December 2023 - 03:50 PM.

[artik]

Which video format did you select?

Generally green-screen is shown till the first frame arrives. Try to switch format, select some small format - to see if there communication problem.

Try to disconnect camera and restart the app.

 

Check the cable. Frequently connectors and cables are source of problems.

[Xeroid]

Artik,

 

Thanks for the quick reply and suggestions.

I verified the cable & camera were good via a separate mini PC and SharpCap.

I then re-booted the tablet and started the app with a lower resolution and that did it!

Looks good so far and using a tablet for to display at the scope is far easier/simpler than using a mini PC or laptop.

I will try next clear night (I  might have to wait until 2024 for a clear night!!)

Good job!

 

 

Which video format did you select?

Generally green-screen is shown till the first frame arrives. Try to switch format, select some small format - to see if there communication problem.

Try to disconnect camera and restart the app.

 

Check the cable. Frequently connectors and cables are source of problems.

[andriy_melnykov]

Hi Artik,

 

I have tried your App - it definitely works :-) Very simple and lightweight solution, in all senses, from used HW (phone) to the SW itself.

Should play with it more outside of the town.

 

Do you have offset parameter in the camera controls? I didn't find it. For ASI SDK it is ASI_OFFSET or ASI_BRIGHTNESS, in SharpCap also called "brightness". It is actually a voltage offset before camera ADC (if I understand it right), to shift a zero point and not get black pixels, because of noise jumping around the zero point.

 

I saw, you planning to implement gradient background subtraction - from my experience extremely useful feature for sessions without narrow band filters under light pollution.

Edited by andriy_melnykov, 01 March 2024 - 03:53 PM.

[andriy_melnykov]

Hi Artik,

 

do you have different algorithms of calibration and stretching for single frames and for stacking mode? This is what I supposed by using the App.

But, why do I care. With an ultra-fast setup (F1.8) I can see, for example, Rosette Nebula already with 1 second single exposure. So, for me, background subtraction and stretching are important also for single frame mode. I like to see bright objects already in single frame mode, like almost in real time. Still, more of a personal preference.

[artik]

Hi Artik,

 

do you have different algorithms of calibration and stretching for single frames and for stacking mode? This is what I supposed by using the App.

But, why do I care. With an ultra-fast setup (F1.8) I can see, for example, Rosette Nebula already with 1 second single exposure. So, for me, background subtraction and stretching are important also for single frame mode. I like to see bright objects already in single frame mode, like almost in real time. Still, more of a personal preference.

It isn't done for normal "live" stream, since it mostly very heavy.

 

But I assume it is possible to make single frame stacking - i.e. run the stacking pipeline but without actual stacking/registration - use only last frame to show the image.

[TelescopeBah]

Will this app work for Svbonys cameras? Like the SV605cc?

[artik]

I opened an issue with this feature request: https://github.com/a...acker/issues/86

[artik]

Will this app work for Svbonys cameras? Like the SV605cc?

Currently it works with USB Video Class (UVC) svbony cameras: sv105, sv205.

 

I talked to SVBony asking for Android SDK, they told me they are thinking to release the Android SDK somewhere in 2024. I have several friends of mine waiting for SVBony support as well.

 

I can easily support it on Linux, or Raspberry PI if needed (I just need to borrow a camera for few weeks from a friend).

 

But for Android I need Android version of SVBony SDK 

[artik]

For ASI SDK it is ASI_OFFSET or ASI_BRIGHTNESS, in SharpCap also called "brightness". It is actually a voltage offset before camera ADC (if I understand it right), to shift a zero point and not get black pixels, because of noise jumping around the zero point.

 

Should be pretty easy to add. https://github.com/a.../asi_camera.cpp it should be similar to touptek opt_black_level 

[TelescopeBah]

Currently it works with USB Video Class (UVC) svbony cameras: sv105, sv205.

 

I talked to SVBony asking for Android SDK, they told me they are thinking to release the Android SDK somewhere in 2024. I have several friends of mine waiting for SVBony support as well.

 

I can easily support it on Linux, or Raspberry PI if needed (I just need to borrow a camera for few weeks from a friend).

 

But for Android I need Android version of SVBony SDK 

OK sounds good. This is what I have really always wanted,  to be able to connect a telescope camera to smartphone or tablet! Simple as possible. I really hope you can get it compatible with the SV605! Thanks for your efforts!!

[TelescopeBah]

I guess adapters are available to go from usb3 to type c etc.?

[andriy_melnykov]

I guess adapters are available to go from usb3 to type c etc.?

I used my Pixel 4a with USB-C (phone side) to USB-A OTG Adapter and included ASI ZWO USB cable - works for me.

[artik]

I hadn't updated for a while.

 

I want to give a few hints. I'm thinking of some planetary/solar live stacking. It needs some changes but I hope I'll made it enough time before the eclipse

 

As a teaser what it may look like (offline algo-testing - so it may differ from final version)

 

[artik]

Version 27 is released to both github and Google Play

 

Unfortunately I didn't manage to include planetary stacking in this release but there is some new stuff.

 

New features

• Added support of linear gradient removal caused by light pollution.

Bug fixes:

• Changed the depth of computing queue from 20 to 10 frames to prevent memory overloading under high loads.
• ToupTek driver fixes
  • Fixed ROI calculations when binning in use
  • Removed frame rate limits for future solar/planetary imaging
  • Removed RGB image from mono cameras
• Now frame-rate limits are are not shown if they aren't known
• Fixed "json" error - in case of no camera detected - now proper error is given

 

Here an example of gradient removal  (after and before)

 

 

 

 

 

[bbking 91]

Work like a charm on Samsung A52 and ASI 224 mc

Fantastic job

Please add QHY driver

[artik]

Work like a charm on Samsung A52 and ASI 224 mc

Fantastic job

Please add QHY driver

Thanks,

 

I personally don't own QHY camera so I can't myself add QHY driver.

One of key contributors to OpenLiveStacker (who also added touptek support) owns such a camera but is now very busy with personal matters - so need to be patient.

Finally it is open-source and I and other contributors do it on their own time.

[artik]

Few updates:

 

Linux only: I added support of FITS to watch directory driver and I also added an option to keep the files in case user does not want to erase them from the directory during stacking

 

I also have a nice example of gradient removal feature: gif of two sets one with gradient removal enabled and one without on exactly the same data with same settings

(simulated offline in the same way it would be in real EAA)

 

It is Veil nebula ~7min total.

 

[artik]

New version beta 30 was released to both google play and github:

 

New Features

• Added support of automatic hot pixels removal as alternative or addition to dark frames, supported on mono and raw streams
• Improved auto-stretch, lower boundary is now tighter and more accurate, fixed issue of incorrect boundary in some cases

Bug fixes:

• Fixed missing filtering of large registration steps bug introduced in beta29

Android specific:

• Moving to target SDK to 34 - for complacency with Google Play Store requirements

Linux specific:

• Added support of FITS for watch directory driver
• Added support of keeping files in watch directory driver

[Xeroid]

I appreciate your updating OpenLive Stacker...hope to test it as soon as the rains stop .. :-(

[Voyager_sr2]

Tried to test the app with Samsung Galaxy Fold 4 and ASI 2600MC Duo - app was able to recognize both chips but constantly crashing when proceeding with either

Hope other have better luck

[artik]

Tried to test the app with Samsung Galaxy Fold 4 and ASI 2600MC Duo - app was able to recognize both chips but constantly crashing when proceeding with either

Hope other have better luck

 

 

Do you get to stream the video? In what scenario does it crash?

 

Which android version? How much RAM does it have? Try smaller frame apply binning or roi.

Can you please try a different device? 

 

One critical point I see it is ASI2600 DUO

 

It is a new camera (I hope SDK supports it - need to check with ASI ZWO)

2nd there are two devices so it is a scenario I had no chances to tests

 

1. Are you requested to give permission to one or two devices?

2. Can you select in opening screen (black screen - camera selection) one or two devices? Can you please give logs (Android/media/org.openlivestacker/OpenLiveStacker/debug)

3. Does it crash on both of them

Edited by artik, 16 July 2024 - 01:12 AM.

[artik]

Android 14 users

 

DO NOT UPGRADE to version 30! Continue to use 29.

 

Alternatively you can install 29 from github: https://github.com/a...releases/beta29

 

I'm working on fix.