RunCam Device Protocol

Description

RunCam Device Protocol is the serial communication protocol initially developed for the RunCam Split and analog cameras.

The protocol itself supports not only full camera osd menu navigation but also triggering recording on split style cameras as well as communicating the available sd-card space, syncing the current date, writing to the osd and turning the camera or wifi function (if available) on and off.

Not all features of the protocol are currently supported in betaflight but both betaflights support and the protocol itself are in continued development.

Lately similar to TBS SmartAudio and IRC Tramp other companies (for instance Caddx) started to adopt support for the protocol in their cameras.

Currently supported features in betaflight

• Full camera OSD control
• Starting/Stopping recording on split style cameras
• Triggering photo snapshots on runcam split cameras
• Wifi and power toggling on runcam split cameras

Protocol specification

The current protocol specification can be found here:

!http://note.youdao.com/groupshare/?token=9AD3F89F0B92488E8241F58CAEDF7939&gid=29699666

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Setup

• One free non-inverted UART on the FC is required (TX and RX)
• Select Runcam Device in the Ports Tab in Betaflight Configurator for the used UART.
• Soft serial may work for some devices and some functions (Softserial has been reported to work with the Runcam Split 2/Mini at least for the record button function).

Supported cameras/devices and functions

Analog/classic fpv cameras

Any RunCam Camera that supports UART camera controls should work.

Micro Swift 3, Runcam Racer 2, etc.

Supported Features

• OSD Menu Control
• Shortcuts like scene switching

RunCam Split

RunCam Split cameras (1,2,mini and mini 2 etc.) also work however may require a firmware update. The first runcam split shipped with a different protocol - make sure to upgrade it either way as newer firmwares improved various things.

Supported Features:

OSD Menu Control

Entering the osd menu to change settings should work with the same stick commands as FPV Camera Control

Camera Button Simulation (Record/Photo/Wifi/Power Button)

Video demonstration: https://goo.gl/tm8CPS

Preparation

Firmware: BetaFlight Firmware (≥3.2.0) Configurator software: Betaflight Configurator (≥3.2.0)

Any available UART interface on the BetaFlight

1.Connect the RunCam Split with the UART interface of the Flight Controller

2.Make the Flight Controller recognize the Split

For example, we connect the Split to the UART 3 interface on the BetaFlight: connect the flight controller to the computer, then open the Betaflight Configurator. In the Peripherals column of the line UART3 (on the Ports tab), select RunCam Device and click Save And Reboot.

3.Instructions of the functions of the camera and assigning transmitter channels to them

In the Betaflight Configurator, navigate to the Modes tab. There are new CAMERA WI-FI, CAMERA POWER and CAMERA CHANGE modes.

CAMERA WI-FI: turn on/off the WIFI of the camera. When in the OSD of the camera, this is used to confirm your selection. CAMERA POWER: start/stop the video. When in the OSD of the camera, this is used to move to the next menu item. CAMERA CHANGE MODE: switch among the three modes, video, photo and OSD setting mode. When in the OSD of the camera, this will exit the menu. Assign any available channel to the function you need, for example:

Assign the AUX1 to the CAMERA WI-FI, range 1900-2100 Assign the AUX2 to the CAMERA POWER, range 1900-2100 Assign the AUX3 to the CAMERA CHANGE MODE, range 1900-2100

4.Assign the channel to the switch of the controller

Please choose your Model on the controller, then access to the Mixer interface and assign the channel to the switch of the controller. Take opentx 2.2.0 for example, assign the channels CH5, CH6, and CH7 to SA, SB, SD respectively.

5.Test

Power the Flight Controller and the RunCam Split

Set the SA to the bottom, the camera turns on/off the WIFI Set the SB to the bottom, the camera starts/stops the video Set the SD to the bottom, the camera switches among the three modes: video, photo and OSD setting mode

Caddx Turtle v2

Caddx also implemented support for the RunCam Device protocol via their last firmware update. Please note however that only the turtle v2 correctly supports UART controls as the v1 had some incompatible connections on the board despite having UART pads.

For the v1 you can still use FPV Camera Control to enter the OSD and control the camera via your transmitter.

Beware that OSD control is disabled during recording.

CADDX support: Turtle V2 can support RUNCAM protocol without flashing firmware.

Turtle V2 has two different versions of hardware. Flashing the firmware may cause the yellow screen to not work. If you need technical support, please go to CADDXFPV official Facebook

Supported Features:

OSD Menu Control

Entering the osd menu to change settings should work with the same stick commands as FPV Camera Control

Camera Button Simulation (Recording)

Just as with the RunCam Split starting/stopping recording on a switch is supported. Follow the instructions outlined above to set it up.

Other supported devices

RunCam Control Adapter (OSD Cable Simulation)

The RunCam Control Adapter, which connects between the OSD pin and an UART on the FC, allows navigation of the OSD menu via the transmitter. Unlike the FPV Camera Control however no additional resistors or capacitors are required.

Depending on the device some shortcut keys are also supported. For example keeping roll pressed to to the right will switch the currently selected scene when using a Micro Swift2.

Setup Guide

List of confirmed compatible cameras

Swift series	Compatible		Eagle series	Compatible		Sparrow series	Compatible		Owl series	Compatible		Sky series	Compatible		Nano	Compatible
Swift 2	Yes		Micro Eagle	Yes		Sparrow	Yes		Owl 2	Yes		SKYPLUS	Yes		Nano	No
Micro Swift 2	Yes		Eagle 2 Pro	Yes		Micro Sparrow	Yes		Owl	No		SKY	Yes
Swift 2 Rotor Riot	Yes		Night Eagle 2	Yes
Micro Swift	Yes		Eagle 2	Yes
Swift Mini 2	Yes		Eagle	No
Swift Mini	Yes