Quantifying asynchrony of multiple cameras using aliased optical devices

Abstract

We present a new method for estimating asynchrony between off-the-shelf consumer-targeted camera systems. The system utilizes local aliasing induced by oscillating LEDs to perform post-hoc calculations. The system is capable of determining the asynchrony between cameras down to fidelity of less than a tenth of a frame. This system has numerous applications in the field of behavioural analysis of animals using arrays of inexpensive cameras.