Written as a test/learning program to help convert pi-timolo https://github.com/pageauc/pi-timolo to use the picamera2 python3 module see https://github.com/pageauc/pi-timolo2. Different methods were tried for automating settings for low light/day light timelapse images. This program was useful for trying and testing differnt ideas. I cleaned it up a bit and posted on GitHub to share with others who may find it useful.
Update Raspberry Pi Operating System Bulleye, Bookwork or later.
In SSH or Terminal Session run commands below.
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y
Select copy icon on right of Github command box below
curl -L https://raw.github.com/pageauc/lolight/master/install.sh | bash
On RPI putty SSH or Terminal session, right click, select paste then Enter to download and run install.sh curl script.
NOTE If config.py exists it will Not be overwritten. A config.py.new will be created/updated instead. To update existing config.py perform commands below
cd ~/lolight
cp config.py config.py.bak
cp config.py.new config.py
To review and/or change settings execute command below in SSH or terminal session. See comments for each variable setting. Ensure camera is installed and working.
cd ~/lolight
nano config.py
To exit nano and save changes press
ctrl-x y
To Run in Foreground open a new SSH or Terminal Session then execute command below.
./webserver.py
or
./lolight.py
NOTE browser URL:PORT for accessing lolight web page will be displayed. Ctrl-c exits.
To Run in Background execute command below in current SSH or Terminal Session.
./webserver.sh start
and/or
./lolight.sh start
Access webserver with a web browser at provided URL and port eg http://192.168.1.128:8090 or http://rpiname.local:8090
https://github.com/pageauc/lolight
Takes timelapse images and saves in date name format to specified dirctory folder. A video stream thread is run. Just before taking image a frame is read from the video stream and the pixel average value is calculated using numpy. This is compared to the darkness threshold DARK_START_PXAVE. Normally about 32 but can be adjusted up or down in config.py If the pxAve is below DARK_START_PXAVE then the camera is put into low light mode. The exposure time in micro seconds is calculated. Lower pxAve means higher exposure time up to the cameras maximum exposure time. see getExposureSettings function in lolight.py python code for details.
The video stream is stopped just before the timelapse image is taken, and restarted after. There is some error trapping to retry camera start if required.