layout Monitoring

[kavouras]

Hello to all,

My name is George and I am 32 years old.I am an embedded devices/android software engineer and I started with the Train modeling about 1 year ago.I have started building my layout but it's an awkward shape.

So while I was thinking the electrical design of the layout i thought why not control the turnouts with servos...so to make a long story short I developed an android app that connects to a unit with a CPU that control all servos in my layout and feedback is given back so I can be informed all the time where my turnouts point to.I am planning to add also infrared sensors to locate the trains and avoid collisions and more.

If you think its an interesting project please let me know and I will be happy to share photos and information with everyone.

[DigitalGriffin]

Hey George,

 

Not to discourage you, but there are multiple products out there that already do this.  Some without any software.  Turnout position information is easily handled by feedback cards like the AIU (NCE systems)   DCC Bitswitch (for auto point throws)  or a DS54/DS64 from digitrax , then there is DCC Specialties Wabbit/Hare

[Lone Wolf and Santa Fe]

I think it's a good idea. Just because someone else might do something similar doesn't mean that your idea might not work better. Please keep us updated.

[RR_Mel]

kavouras

 

If you think its an interesting project please let me know and I will be happy to share photos and information with everyone.

 

There are a lot of us dinking around with the Arduino for different goodies.  I for one am open for your help.  I have a half dozen UNOs in and working and currently installing a MEGA block control system.

 

I have experimented with the SG90 servos for opening and closing my roundhouse doors and the doors on my diesel maintenance building.

 

Operating turnouts is another project on my to do list.

 

  

 

 

 

Mel

 

Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951

 

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

 

[tedtedderson]

I like the feedback loop idea. Takes the computerization full circle.  My next layout will have computer control.  I am very interested in this topic. 

T e d

[kavouras]

Hi to all and thank you very much for your great interest!!

Of course, I know that there are many awesome products out on the market (and I am a big fan of nce although for now, I use a Fleischmann but I will take NCE in the future definitely!!)my problem was and still is that these products are separate and doesn't actually personalise my layout or display and control as I want when I want from one point and one device.

My goal is to have (and I already do but its still basic) a software that will be rather easy to customize and hardware which will be easily built.

So thank you again for your interest and tomorrow I will upload photos from my work until now and keep updating all the project from software design to PCB design and how to build everything from your home.

Please understand that this will not be a DIY tutorial rather than a place that we can help each other build an awesome tool for our layout each of us for his own layout but together and most of all have fun.

Thank you all for accepting me in your famous and quite respectful company,

updates coming tomorrow!!And whatever question you have I 'll always be happy to help.

[BroadwayLion]

All that elektronick stuff is expensive.

 

LION uses a replikation of a GRS interlocking tower.

If the lever is IN, then the points are in their normal position.

Pull the lever out and the points are reversed.

LION can look at machine and *KNOW* if da points are correct.

 

The model board (on the udder hand) tells the LION where the TRAINS are and says nothing about the position of the turnouts.

Him could have added more LEDS (and wires which are expensive) and provided that data to the board, but him did that not.

Layout of LION *is* rather simple, being only 14 miles long. Train goes out, around the loop and comes back again. LION actually only uses five levers for rull-on rush hour service. Other levers will park trains during un-peek hours, or will let MOW trains into the mix.

 

ROAR

[kavouras]

So hello all it is time to show you the work that's been done till now!

Please keep in mind that this is still a prototype and there is still work to be done that also depend on the materials for my layout (servos,semaphores etc) which needs money to obtain so the project will move as fast as my pocket can buy materials

 

basic materials around 15$ maybe less...

software maker android developer (don't worry you will not have to do many things here just some which I will explain in detail)

tablet with the control board (the background is a photo from a layout design software (i do not know if I am allowed to say which) and depicts my will be layout)

my baseboard is ready now I try to gather the tracks and servos 

your final board will look like this and you will be able to make it at your home or send the drawings to professionals for even better construction

introduction video (https://youtu.be/9FKpL8K2KdY)

All comments welcome and next update will be on Sunday (hopefully)

 

 

 

[tedtedderson]

Kavouras

This is very cool.  I was looking into something similar. I want to duplicate my control panel made of wood, toggles, and LEDs (purely analog) and connect it to a digital representation on a  laptop screen via arduino serial output.  I was thinking of creating the digital control panel in visual basic. 

I think you have the right idea though, Android on a tablet is probably the best way to go. 

I'm looking forward to seeing more.

T e d 

[kavouras]

Thank you very much. I choose and basically I suggest a tablet because it's more easy to fit in the layout.i plan to put it in a wooden frame in my fascia,with pc that would be difficult even with laptop.i also suggest android because of the very cheap tablets. And two last things if your layout is big and doesn't fit in the screen or you cannot see it well we can put more scroll pages or even better android TV box and we can connect to a 50" TV.The possibilities are endless. You can use your Arduino also if you want I will provide the structure of my c code and explain it so people that uses arduino can write the code and use them with this project.