Streaming Data between Smart Camera and FPGA?

Question

Is there a way I can stream data between a smart camera (NI 1774) and a FlexRIO FPGA module (PXIe-7961R)? I understand that data from the smart camera can only come from a USB or an Ethernet connection, I intend to plug the camera to the PXI controller (PXIe-8135), the chassis I'm using is PXIe-1082 so the p2p data transfer at 8GB/s should be possible between the controller and the FPGA module.
As a note: The processing I'm trying to do is too computationally intensive so its not possible to do it on the smart camera itself. 

Answer 1

Hi faisalm88,
This is Emi from NI.
Unfortunately there is no direct streaming between smart camera and FlexRIO FPGA.
(It has to be smart camera -> controller --> FlexRIO FPGA board)
And thus I have a few suggestion for you.
If you can tell me what's your application (does it have to be smart camera? Is the "data" you are talking about image?) ,
I might can come up with even better solution.
1. Do not use smart camera.
The iamge quality of 1774 can be easily replaced with USB web cam.
You can connect the web cam to your PXI controller and transfer data to your FPGA board.
If you are using LabVIEW 2014 and newer, there is function to transfer image data to FPGA.
2. Do not use 8135
Assuming if you are using FlexRIO just to enhance image processing performance,
then if might be better to use CVS
http://sine.ni.com/nips/cds/view/p/lang/ja/nid/212667
It has both FPGA and quadcore processor.
3. Stream image data: 1774 --> 8135 --> 7961R
Let me know what method you want to take
and I can describe them more in detail.
Emi
Emi Nakayama
Applications Engineer, Japan
National Instruments