Camera Snapshot

Name: Camera Snapshot
Author: Synthiam

Save camera snapshots to 'My Robot Pictures' (Pictures folder), manual or timed (0-100s), and trigger programmatically via controlCommand.

How to add the Camera Snapshot robot skill

Load the most recent release of ARC (Get ARC).
Press the Project tab from the top menu bar in ARC.
Press Add Robot Skill from the button ribbon bar in ARC.
Choose the Camera category tab.
Press the Camera Snapshot icon to add the robot skill to your project.

Don't have a robot yet?

Follow the Getting Started Guide to build a robot and use the Camera Snapshot robot skill.

How to use the Camera Snapshot robot skill

The Camera Snapshot skill saves still photos (snapshots) from a camera that is currently running in the Camera Device skill. Think of it like a “Take Photo” button for your robot’s camera.

When a snapshot is taken, the image is saved on your computer/device storage in: Pictures → My Robot Pictures. (ARC creates this folder if it does not already exist.)

You can take a photo manually at any time, or you can configure the skill to take photos automatically on a timer using the Snapshot Interval setting.

Beginner note: Camera Snapshot does not start the camera by itself. Your camera must be started and streaming in the Camera Device skill first, otherwise there is nothing to save.

Taking Snapshots with Code (Optional)

If you want your robot to take photos automatically during a script (for example, after it detects a face, or when a button is pressed), you can trigger this skill from ARC scripting using controlCommand().

Example

controlCommand("Camera Snapshot", "CameraSnapshot")

Tip: The first parameter ("Camera Snapshot") must match the title of the Camera Snapshot skill in your project. If you rename the skill, update your script to match.

Main Window

1. Pause Snapshots (checkbox)

When checked, the Camera Snapshot skill is paused and will not save any pictures (manual or automatic). Use this if you temporarily want to stop saving images without removing the skill.

2. Save Now (button)

Takes a snapshot immediately and saves it to Pictures → My Robot Pictures. Make sure your camera is running in the Camera Device skill first.

3. Status Display

Shows the date and time of the last saved snapshot, so you can confirm that photos are being captured.

Settings

1. Snapshot Interval (drop-down)

Sets how often Camera Snapshot will automatically save a picture, measured in seconds. The range is 0–100 seconds, and the default is 100 seconds.

Smaller number = more frequent photos (for example, every 5 seconds).
Larger number = fewer photos (for example, every 100 seconds).
If the camera is not running in Camera Device, no snapshots can be taken.

2. Save Interesting Photos (checkbox)

When enabled, ARC will try to save a snapshot when it detects something “unique” or different in the camera view. This can be useful if you want fewer photos and only want images when something changes.

3. Title (field)

Enter the name of the Camera Device skill that you want to take photos from. This is most useful when your ARC project has more than one camera.

Important: If you change this title, it also changes the name you must use in your controlCommand() calls for this skill.

How to Use Camera Snapshot (Step-by-Step)

Add the Camera Device skill to your ARC project: Project → Add Skill → Camera → Camera Device.
Add the Camera Snapshot skill to your ARC project: Project → Add Skill → Camera → Camera Snapshot.
Open the Camera Device skill, select your camera, and click Start so you can see the live video feed.
Open the Camera Snapshot skill and click Save Now to take a picture immediately.
(Optional) Open Settings in Camera Snapshot and choose a Snapshot Interval if you want automatic timed photos.
Check your saved images in Pictures → My Robot Pictures.