JetRacer: No Camera Widget When Running Interactive Regression

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing issues with the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board when attempting to run the interactive regression notebook. The primary symptom is the absence of a camera widget that should display the live camera feed; instead, users see a message indicating "VBOX(…)" and receive warnings stating that the camera cannot query the video position.

This issue occurs specifically when running Jupyter Notebook with an installed ipywidgets library. Users have confirmed that the Orin Nano’s GUI is enabled and that the camera operates correctly with other applications, such as jetson-inference training examples. The problem has been reported consistently, affecting user experience by preventing access to live camera feeds necessary for tasks like object detection and data collection.

Relevant specifications include:

• Camera Type: CSI Raspberry Pi Camera V2
• Software: Jupyter Notebook with ipywidgets
• Operating System: JetPack 5.x or 6.x on Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano

Possible Causes

• Camera Type Confusion: Users may be using incompatible camera types (CSI vs. USB), leading to functionality issues.

• Software Bugs: There may be bugs in ipywidgets or Jupyter Notebook that prevent proper rendering of widgets.

• Configuration Errors: Incorrect installation or configuration of ipywidgets or related libraries could lead to widget display failures.

• Driver Issues: Outdated or incompatible drivers for the camera may hinder its functionality within Jupyter.

• Environmental Factors: Node.js version requirements for certain libraries may not be met, affecting widget functionality.

• User Errors: Misconfigurations during installation or updates of libraries could cause issues.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Verify Camera Connection

   • Ensure that the correct camera type is used (CSI vs. USB).
   • Confirm that the camera is properly connected and recognized by the system.

2. Check Software Installation

   • Run the following command to check ipywidgets version:

     pip show ipywidgets
     

   • If using an outdated version, consider upgrading:

     pip install --upgrade ipywidgets
     

3. Reinstall Jupyter Widgets

   • Uninstall and reinstall Jupyter widgets:

     pip uninstall jupyter-widgets
     pip install jupyter-widgets
     

4. Install Compatible Versions

   • If issues persist, try installing specific versions of ipywidgets:

     pip install ipywidgets==7.6.5 --force-reinstall
     

5. Check Node.js Version

   • Verify Node.js version:

     node -v
     

   • If below 18.0.0, consider upgrading Node.js as it is required for some extensions.

6. Install Missing Dependencies

   • Attempt to install required JavaScript components:

     jupyter labextension install js
     

7. Debugging JavaScript Errors

   • For JavaScript errors related to ClickableImageModel, ensure all dependencies are correctly installed.
   • Check for errors in the browser console while running Jupyter Notebook.

8. Testing with Different Configurations

   • Test the setup with different versions of Jupyter and ipywidgets to isolate compatibility issues.

9. Consult Documentation and Community Resources

   • Review documentation for both ipywidgets and Jupyter Notebook for any known issues or updates.
   • Engage with community forums or GitHub repositories related to jupyter_clickable_image_widget for additional support.

10. Workaround for Live Feed

    • If unable to resolve widget issues, consider using alternative methods to access live camera feeds, such as direct command-line tools like nvgstcapture-1.0.

11. Report Issues on GitHub

    • If problems remain unresolved, file a new issue on the relevant GitHub repository to seek assistance from developers and other users.

By following these steps, users can systematically diagnose and potentially resolve issues related to the camera widget on their Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board while running interactive regression notebooks in Jupyter.