Xbox 360 Kinect on Home Assistant

Share your Projects! Custom Integrations
1

Step 1: Create the Main Program
Write the Program Create a C file, main.c, that streams Kinect video via v4l2loopback. Use the code provided below.

Save it as main.c.

Compile the Program Use GCC to compile the program:
terminal
gcc main.c -o kinect_to_v4l2 -lfreenect -lpthread -lm

Step 2: Set Up Virtual Loopback
Install v4l2loopback Install the v4l2loopback kernel module:
terminal

sudo apt update
sudo apt install v4l2loopback-dkms v4l-utils

Load the Module Create a virtual video device:
terminal
sudo modprobe v4l2loopback video_nr=2 exclusive_caps=1 max_buffers=2

Verify the Device Check if the virtual device is available:
terminal
ls /dev/video*

Step 3: Run the Kinect Stream
Run the Program Start the Kinect streaming program:
terminal
./kinect_to_v4l2

Verify the Stream Use ffplay to check the output:
terminal
ffplay /dev/video2

Step 4: Install and Configure Motion
Install Motion Install the Motion service:
terminal
sudo apt install motion

Configure Motion Edit the Motion configuration file:
terminal
sudo nano /etc/motion/motion.conf

Set the following parameters:
conf

videodevice /dev/video2       # Use the Kinect stream
width 640
height 480
framerate 15
stream_port 8081             # Enable streaming on port 8081
stream_localhost off         # Allow external access
stream_maxrate 15

Save and exit.

Enable and Start Motion Enable and start the Motion service:
terminal

sudo systemctl enable motion
sudo systemctl start motion

Test the Stream Open a browser and go to:

browser
http://:8081/

NOTE dev/video* will need to match in all your setup(main.c and motion), change it to match the virtual dev/video created

Step 5: Integrate with Home Assistant
Edit Home Assistant Add the Kinect stream:
yaml

camera:
  - platform: generic
    name: Kinect Camera
    still_image_url: http://<server-ip>:8081/stream.jpg
    stream_source: http://<server-ip>:8081
    verify_ssl: false

main.c


#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <assert.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <fcntl.h>
#include "libfreenect.h"
#include <pthread.h>

pthread_mutex_t gl_backbuf_mutex = PTHREAD_MUTEX_INITIALIZER;
pthread_t freenect_thread;
volatile int die = 0;

uint8_t *rgb_back, *rgb_mid, *rgb_front;

freenect_context *f_ctx;
freenect_device *f_dev;
freenect_video_format current_format = FREENECT_VIDEO_RGB;

int pipe_fd[2];

void rgb_cb(freenect_device *dev, void *rgb, uint32_t timestamp) {
    pthread_mutex_lock(&gl_backbuf_mutex);

    // Swap buffers
    assert(rgb_back == rgb);
    rgb_back = rgb_mid;
    freenect_set_video_buffer(dev, rgb_back);
    rgb_mid = (uint8_t*)rgb;

    // Write RGB data to the pipe for ffmpeg
    if (pipe_fd[1] != -1) {
        write(pipe_fd[1], rgb_mid, 640 * 480 * 3); // RGB24 format
    }

    pthread_mutex_unlock(&gl_backbuf_mutex);
}

void *freenect_threadfunc(void *arg) {
    freenect_set_video_callback(f_dev, rgb_cb);
    freenect_set_video_mode(f_dev, freenect_find_video_mode(FREENECT_RESOLUTION_MEDIUM, current_format));
    freenect_set_video_buffer(f_dev, rgb_back);

    freenect_start_video(f_dev);

    while (!die && freenect_process_events(f_ctx) >= 0);

    freenect_stop_video(f_dev);
    freenect_close_device(f_dev);
    freenect_shutdown(f_ctx);
    return NULL;
}

int main(int argc, char **argv) {
    int res;

    rgb_back = (uint8_t*)malloc(640 * 480 * 3);
    rgb_mid = (uint8_t*)malloc(640 * 480 * 3);

    if (freenect_init(&f_ctx, NULL) < 0) {
        fprintf(stderr, "freenect_init() failed\n");
        return 1;
    }

    freenect_set_log_level(f_ctx, FREENECT_LOG_DEBUG);
    freenect_select_subdevices(f_ctx, FREENECT_DEVICE_CAMERA);

    if (freenect_open_device(f_ctx, &f_dev, 0) < 0) {
        fprintf(stderr, "Could not open device\n");
        freenect_shutdown(f_ctx);
        return 1;
    }

    // Create a pipe for inter-process communication
    if (pipe(pipe_fd) == -1) {
        perror("pipe");
        return 1;
    }

    // Fork a process to run ffmpeg
    pid_t pid = fork();
    if (pid == 0) {
        // Child process: Run ffmpeg
        close(pipe_fd[1]); // Close write end

        dup2(pipe_fd[0], STDIN_FILENO); // Redirect stdin to read end of pipe

        execlp("ffmpeg", "ffmpeg",
       "-f", "rawvideo",
       "-pixel_format", "rgb24",
       "-video_size", "640x480",
       "-framerate", "30",
       "-i", "-",
       "-f", "v4l2",
       "-pix_fmt", "yuv420p",
       "/dev/video2",
       NULL);


        perror("execlp");
        exit(1);
    }

    close(pipe_fd[0]); // Close read end in the parent process

    res = pthread_create(&freenect_thread, NULL, freenect_threadfunc, NULL);
    if (res) {
        fprintf(stderr, "pthread_create failed\n");
        freenect_shutdown(f_ctx);
        return 1;
    }

    pthread_join(freenect_thread, NULL);

    // Clean up
    free(rgb_back);
    free(rgb_mid);
    close(pipe_fd[1]); // Close write end
    return 0;
}

thanks for you’re interest and let me know if you have issues or need help understanding my instructions

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