Tracking airplanes with PTZ

[TuckNTruck]

So I've recently discovered AI's ability to make some really cool websites/programs. I've been designing some cool projects, and it's all going really well. So I asked if it could design a program to pull ADS-B data from aircraft overhead and command a PTZ to track it based off the ADS-B data. It said absolutely, no problem!

So I am thinking about buying a Dahua PTZ1A225-HNR-GB, and AI says that's a fine camera for the project. But I have enough experience with Dahua to know their web interface is pretty terrible, only plays well with IE, etc.

So has anyone ever done a project like this? I've seen Axis and others make package deals specifically for this, but I want to DIY for under $1,000 and Axis is at least 4X that. Only real concern is the web interface. AI is basically wanting to create a website for me and other users to access to view the airplanes overhead, select which one to track, etc, and also display the video feed in that webpage. I'm skeptical just based on my experience with Dahua's web interface.

Worst case, if AI can design a program to send commands to the PTZ based on the ADS-B data, I could always view and record the feed in BI instead of a website.

This is just a test to see if this is possible. If it works, I'll be moving the camera to the roof of a hangar at a popular vacation destination airport for some really cool footage hopefully.

Ideas appreciated.

 

[wittaj]

I would love to see how well that would work (or not work lol). I would think lag of flight data and pointing the PTZ to the right area would be a challenge.

My friend lives on a flight path and has this PTZ and it will track about 30% of the planes as a vehicle.

 

[TuckNTruck]

So I've been testing this on other Dahua PTZs I've got, and the script AI put together is able to control the camera and I've simulated a typical airplane landing scenario using the basic geometry of where I'll eventually install this if it all works, and so far so good. The camera moves smoothly and doesn't look like it's going to be an issue getting this thing to track via just ADS-B data if we need to. But then I asked if it could acquire the airplane via ADS-B data and then switch to tracking the airplane "visually" and it says it can easily do that and still supplement that tracking with ADS-B so if the airplane gets blocked by an obstacle or cloud, the tracking will still follow and be ready to switch back to visual tracking once the airplane can be seen again.

So now I'm going through the design of the actual website - a live "radar" screen that will display all the airplanes within at least a 50 mile radius, and it will have a "trackable" region on the radar that once a plane is close enough, the camera will automatically pick the closest one to track, or a different plane can be selected manually from the radar. Flight info will be overlayed on the video - callsign, altitude, heading, speed.

All ADS-B data will be picked up by my own receiver, so no other providers/servers involved, all directly to my own equipment to cut down on any potential latency. If the airport approves the install on my hangar roof, then I'll integrate ATC comms as well through another of my own receivers and the AI will timestamp everything appropriately so when someone watches playback of a departure or arrival, the corresponding radio traffic will play with it.

Started out with a much simpler idea, but if I'm gonna do this, might as well go all out, so now I've pretty much decided to move from a raspberry pi5 to an Optiplex setup, UPS, full remote control so I can reboot after power outages, etc. AI has it all figured out and I just have to buy the stuff lol.

Also planning to build in some prioritization - emergency/distress aircraft first, my own airplanes that I fly are next in line, I'll upload a list of airplanes that frequently carry famous folks/artists/etc, then airlines and corporate aircraft, then small trainer aircraft, etc

Figure I'll be in it for 2K - already double my initial thought of 1K or less, but that includes Starlink, the PC/graphics card/peripherals, UPS, ADS-B and radio receivers, etc, etc.

Heading to the airport next week and plan to talk to the airport authority to see if this is even something they'd consider allowing....Hope for the best!