Skycam

Ceiling-mounted timelapse camera rig - July 2026

3D render of a mechanical arm with orange and black components against a dark background.

Skycam is an ongoing electromechanical engineering project designed to deliver precise, repeatable overhead camera motion for dynamic time-lapse capture. Using a V-slot aluminium frame and belt-driven gantry plates, the rig uses four Arduino-controlled NEMA stepper motors to translate and rotate a camera payload across 4 degrees of freedom (4 DoF).

The rig is mounted on a low-profile swivel plate, and driven by a custom 3D-printed circular gear rail, allowing precise yaw control.

Prior to physical fabrication, the entire physical assembly was modeled in Blender and imported into Unity for real-time kinematic simulation and visual motion control.

Modeling the physical gantry, gear mesh, and camera kinematics in a 3D environment allowed virtual testing of sweep angles, verification of spatial clearances, and refinement of motion trajectories—reducing design revisions and ensuring mechanical fit prior to fabrication of final components.

Back view of a Google Pixel 8a smartphone in Aloe green color, featuring a circular camera module and the Google logo on the back.
A Google Pixel 8a (in fetching Aloe green) adds optical image stabilisation and an ultra-wide angle lens.
Close-up view of a red stepper motor control board with various electronic components and color-coded wires connected to it.
A4988-based drivers take care of the destructive voltages and current needed to drive the stepper motors.
Arduino board connected to a stepper motor via wires and 3D-printed brackets on a wooden surface.
The Arduino Uno R4 WiFi controls and keeps track of stepper motor positions, ensuring the gantry plates remain within bounds.

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