Unable to capture raw images using nvargus_nvraw with IMX283 camera on Jetson Orin Nano

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties capturing raw images using the nvargus_nvraw tool with an IMX283 MIPI camera connected to a Jetson Orin Nano development board. While the camera is detected and can stream video successfully using v4l2 and argus_camera, attempts to capture raw images with nvargus_nvraw result in errors. The issue persists despite the camera being properly recognized and functional for other imaging tasks.

Possible Causes

1. EGL Display Initialization Failure: The error logs indicate a failure to initialize the EGL display, which is crucial for GPU-accelerated image processing.

2. X11 Display Configuration: The issue may be related to running the tool remotely via SSH without proper X11 forwarding or display configuration.

3. Driver Compatibility: There might be incompatibilities between the camera driver and the nvargus_nvraw tool, particularly for raw image capture.

4. Hardware Resource Allocation: The error could be due to improper allocation or access to hardware resources required for raw image capture.

5. Software Version Mismatch: Incompatibilities between the installed versions of NVIDIA JetPack, camera drivers, and imaging tools could be causing the issue.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Set DISPLAY Environment Variable:
   When running the tool remotely via SSH, ensure the DISPLAY environment variable is set correctly:

   export DISPLAY=:0
   

   This allows the application to connect to the X11 display server on the Jetson device.

2. Update JetPack and Camera Drivers:
   Ensure you have the latest JetPack version installed on your Jetson Orin Nano. Update the camera drivers to the latest compatible version:

   sudo apt update
   sudo apt upgrade
   

3. Check Camera Detection and Modes:
   Verify that the camera is properly detected and its modes are recognized:

   v4l2-ctl --list-devices
   v4l2-ctl -d /dev/video0 --list-formats-ext
   

   Replace /dev/video0 with the appropriate device if different.

4. Examine Daemon Logs:
   Stop the nvargus daemon and run it with verbose logging:

   sudo service nvargus-daemon stop
   sudo su
   export enableCamPclLogs=5
   export enableCamScfLogs=5
   /usr/sbin/nvargus-daemon
   

   Analyze the output for specific errors or warnings related to the IMX283 camera or raw image capture.

5. Capture Trace Logs:
   Enable and capture trace logs for more detailed debugging information:

   echo 1 > /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/tracing_on
   echo 30720 > /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/buffer_size_kb
   echo 1 > /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/events/tegra_rtcpu/enable
   echo 1 > /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/events/freertos/enable
   echo 2 > /sys/kernel/debug/camrtc/log-level
   echo 1 > /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/events/camera_common/enable
   echo > /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/trace
   

   After reproducing the issue, capture the trace:

   cat /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/trace > trace_log.txt
   

6. Check EGL and GPU Status:
   Verify that EGL and the GPU are functioning correctly:

   sudo nvidia-smi
   eglinfo
   

   Look for any errors or abnormalities in the output.

7. Test with Different Image Formats:
   Try capturing images in different formats to isolate if the issue is specific to raw capture:

   nvargus_nvraw --c 1 --mode 0 --format "yuv,jpg" --skipframes 20 --file /home/nvidia/test_image.jpg
   

8. Consult NVIDIA Developer Forums:
   If the issue persists, consider posting detailed logs and your system configuration on the NVIDIA Developer Forums for Jetson devices. The community and NVIDIA support staff may provide additional insights or workarounds.

9. Check for Known Issues:
   Review the release notes and known issues for your specific JetPack version and the IMX283 camera driver. There may be documented limitations or workarounds for raw image capture with this specific hardware combination.

By systematically working through these steps, you should be able to identify the root cause of the raw image capture issue and potentially resolve it or find a suitable workaround.