Green Screen Issue with Video Viewer on Jetson Orin Nano

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing a green screen when streaming video using the video-viewer application on the Jetson Orin Nano platform. This issue manifests during the streaming process, where instead of the expected video feed, a green screen is displayed in the browser. The problem has been reported with the following specifications:

• Platform: Jetson Orin Nano
• Jetpack Version: 5.0 (with suggestions to upgrade to 5.1.3)
• Camera Output Format: UYVY (4:2:2)
• Frequency: The issue appears consistently when attempting to stream video.
• Impact: The inability to view video feeds significantly hampers user experience and functionality, especially for applications requiring real-time video processing.

Possible Causes

1. Hardware Limitations:

   • The Jetson Orin Nano lacks a hardware encoder, which may be necessary for efficient video streaming. Users have been advised to consider upgrading to Orin NX or Xavier NX if hardware encoding is essential.

2. Software Bugs or Conflicts:

   • Issues with specific versions of Jetpack (e.g., 5.0) may lead to incompatibilities with certain applications, causing unexpected behavior like the green screen.

3. Configuration Errors:

   • Incorrect settings in the video-viewer command or camera configuration could lead to improper streaming formats or resolutions being used.

4. Driver Issues:

   • Outdated or incompatible drivers may prevent proper communication between the camera and the streaming application.

5. Environmental Factors:

   • Power supply inconsistencies or overheating could potentially impact performance, though not directly indicated in this case.

6. User Errors:

   • Misconfigurations in command usage or camera setup could also lead to this issue.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Check Jetpack Version:

   cat /etc/nv_tegra_release
   

   Ensure you are running Jetpack 5.1.3 or later for better compatibility and fixes related to video streaming.

2. Update Video Viewer Command:
   Use the following command to launch video-viewer:

   ./video-viewer /dev/video0 webrtc://@:8554/output --output-codec=H264 --output-encoder=v4l2 --output-save=out.h264
   

   If the output file is empty and displays a green screen, proceed with further troubleshooting.

3. Change Camera Format:
   Ensure that your camera is set to use the UYVY format as follows:

   v4l2-ctl --device=/dev/video0 --set-fmt-video=width=1920,height=1080,pixelformat=UYVY
   

4. Check Camera Connection and Settings:

   • Verify that the camera is properly connected and recognized by the system.
   • Use v4l2-ctl to list available formats and ensure that UYVY is supported.

5. Upgrade Jetpack:
   If issues persist, upgrade to Jetpack 5.1.3 using SDK Manager:

   • Follow instructions from NVIDIA’s official documentation on upgrading Jetpack.

6. Test with Different Hardware/Software Configurations:

   • If possible, test with another camera or another Jetson device to isolate whether the issue is hardware-specific.

7. Review Logs for Errors:
   Check logs generated during streaming for any error messages that could provide insights into what might be going wrong.

8. Consult Documentation & Community Forums:
   Refer to NVIDIA’s official forums and documentation for any similar issues reported by other users.

Recommended Approaches

• Users have reported success by upgrading to Jetpack 5.1.3 and ensuring that their camera settings are correctly configured.
• If using a USB camera, ensure it is compatible with UYVY format as recommended in NVIDIA’s FAQ documentation.

Unresolved Aspects

• The absence of a hardware encoder in the Orin Nano remains a significant limitation for users needing efficient video processing capabilities.
• Further investigation may be needed into potential software bugs within specific versions of Jetpack affecting video output reliability.

This document serves as a comprehensive guide for troubleshooting the green screen issue encountered when using video-viewer on the Jetson Orin Nano platform, providing users with actionable steps and recommendations based on community discussions and expert insights.