Heres my project. I have a simple wind gauge on a tripod. Looks like this:
http://www.espikes.com/shop/graphics/sp/4245s.jpg
I bought a wireless IP webcam that can pan/tilt/rotate in hopes i could attach some kind of wire to it that would press the buttons as I rotated it but the cam is only strong enough to move itself. So i’m gonna need some kind of actuator or step motor with an arm that can press the buttons. I was looking at the remote Firgelli Automations 2-4 Channel Remote Control System maybe to activate something that could press the buttons. The mounting plate for the webcam comes straight out flat in front of it and is stable enough i can drill holes for mounting right in front of the buttons if needed. Any ideas? I’m a complete novice at robotics. Thanks for any help.
Hmm, its a bit pricey. Any powered ethernet based controllers maybe? My finish line timing camera is already 50m away with cat5 and powered, so if I could put a small hub there and run power/cat5 to the wind gauge, that would work. I saw the Phidgets 1 Motor USB Servo Controller Kit, but usb has length limits and a usb to ethernet converter might complicate it?
thanks for the replies. yeah, all I need to do is press 2 simple buttons, but i was hoping to not have to tear it apart to do it. My knowledge of programming (other than basic flash) and electronics is limited. I’d need steps like “buy this, connect it to this, attach this, and power it with this”. 
I think i’m going to attack this from a different approach. I have a spare laptop i never use and it has wifi. I can use the simple phidget usb controller and remote desktop to control it. Now I just need to pick a servo that will work. Do they all come with various horns/arms or do you have to buy those separate?
just an update, got it working, just have to replace win2k with winxp so i can remote desktop to it. Still playing with different knobs for the ends so they press the buttons better, but the majority of the work is done.
If your goal is simply to press the buttons, have you considered hacking the button pads and “shorting” them. You could use a simple wireless system, microcontroller and a couple of transistors to simulate button presses. No moving parts involved.
You will usually be supplied with a small baggie of various servo horns as pictured here:
http://www.robotshop.ca/Images/big/en/hitec-standard-servo-horn-set.jpg
Hi Dougrun,
Welcome to the RobotShop Forum. If you want a solution that does not involve altering your meter, you can use one servo motor and a WiFi microcontroller such as the BlackWidow. The servo would be able to press either button independantly simply by rotating. A wired solution would be less expensive.
Does this help?
Hi,
There are various option including bluetooth, RF and cabled. You are correct to be worried that the Phidgets single servo controller might not work over such a distance. Since budget seems to be a factor, you might want to use an RF pair and a servo controller, though you will need to wire and program it yourself. Adding ethernet would increase the complexity and cost, but is certainly possible.
Photos are always appreciated. The way you described your project is exactly what we envisioned. Perhaps in a second prototype you might be able to simplify it all to the point where you have the the wind sensor connected to a small microcontroller and WiFi (no camera needed).
The least expensive way of controlling a servo motor using the IP, would be to use the YellowJacket.
Else, you could use the Ethernet Shield with an Arduino.
