Unable to Capture Image Using V4L2 in Orin Nano

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties capturing images using the V4L2 (Video for Linux 2) interface on the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board. The problem arises specifically when attempting to retrieve images from a USB camera, despite successful image capture using the Aravis library.

Symptoms:

• Users report a blank screen when executing the command gst-launch-1.0 tcambin ! videoconvert ! ximagesink.
• Errors related to V4L2 are mentioned, but specific error messages are not consistently provided.

Context:

• The issue occurs during attempts to capture images after setting up the tiscamera library, which is expected to support USB cameras through V4L2.
• Users have confirmed that they have followed the necessary steps outlined in the tiscamera GitHub README.

Hardware/Software Specifications:

• The issue pertains to USB cameras connected to the Jetson Orin Nano.
• Users mentioned configurations related to building tiscamera with options for V4L2 and LibUsb support.

Frequency:

The problem appears to be consistent among multiple users attempting similar setups.

Impact:

The inability to capture images using V4L2 significantly hampers user experience and functionality, especially for applications relying on image acquisition.

Possible Causes

• Hardware Incompatibilities or Defects: The USB camera may not be fully compatible with the V4L2 interface or could be malfunctioning.

• Software Bugs or Conflicts: There may be bugs in the tiscamera library or conflicts with other software components that prevent proper image capture.

• Configuration Errors: Incorrect build options or parameters may lead to improper functioning of the V4L2 interface.

• Driver Issues: Outdated or incompatible drivers could hinder communication between the camera and the Jetson Orin Nano.

• Environmental Factors: Power supply issues or temperature extremes might affect device performance.

• User Errors or Misconfigurations: Users may not have configured their systems correctly, leading to failures in capturing images.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Verify Camera Connection:

   • Ensure that the USB camera is properly connected and recognized by the system. Use the command:

     lsusb
     

   • Check if the camera appears in the list of connected devices.

2. Check Camera Capabilities:

   • Use v4l2-ctl to verify camera capabilities and ensure it supports the required formats:

     v4l2-ctl --list-formats-ext
     

3. Review Build Options:

   • Ensure that both DTCAM_BUILD_V4L2 and DTCAM_BUILD_LIBUSB are set to ON during the build process of tiscamera. If not, rebuild with these options enabled.

4. Test with Alternative Commands:

   • If gst-launch-1.0 fails, try using v4l2-ctl directly to capture an image:

     v4l2-ctl --stream-mmap --stream-count=1 --device=/dev/video0
     

   • Replace /dev/video0 with your camera’s device identifier if different.

5. Modify Parameters for Compatibility:

   • If issues persist, modify parameters in your command or configuration files based on feedback from v4l2-ctl regarding your camera’s capabilities.

6. Update Drivers and Firmware:

   • Ensure that you have the latest drivers and firmware updates for both Jetson Orin Nano and the USB camera. Check Nvidia’s official site for updates.

7. Consult Documentation:

   • Refer to tiscamera’s GitHub README and other documentation for any additional configuration steps specific to your setup.

8. Testing Different Configurations:

   • If possible, test with different USB cameras or configurations to isolate whether the issue is specific to a particular model or setup.

9. Community Support:

   • Engage with forums or communities related to Nvidia Jetson for additional insights or similar experiences from other users.

Recommended Approach

Multiple users have found success by verifying camera capabilities using v4l2-ctl, ensuring correct build configurations, and testing alternative commands for image capture. Following these steps systematically can help diagnose and resolve issues effectively.

Unresolved Aspects

Further investigation may be needed into specific error messages from users, as well as compatibility checks for various USB cameras with V4L2 on Jetson Orin Nano.