Train Station ID
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I trying to come up with a method for a model train car to passively
identify the different stations along it’s track. The car will have a BS2 on
board. I am thinking about a crude barcode scanner on the train and labeling
the stations. Are there other methods that might be easier for the bs2?
There will be about 20 stations.
Thanks,
Jeff
[noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
identify the different stations along it’s track. The car will have a BS2 on
board. I am thinking about a crude barcode scanner on the train and labeling
the stations. Are there other methods that might be easier for the bs2?
There will be about 20 stations.
Thanks,
Jeff
[noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Comments
Perhaps IR led's, each transmitting a different code? Could be set in the
track, and the train have the receiver on the bottom.
Jonathan
www.madlabs.info
Original Message
From: "Jeff Mitchell" <JMitchell@G...>
To: "Basicstamps" <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 31, 2004 6:39 PM
Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Train Station ID
> I trying to come up with a method for a model train car to passively
> identify the different stations along it's track. The car will have a BS2
on
> board. I am thinking about a crude barcode scanner on the train and
labeling
> the stations. Are there other methods that might be easier for the bs2?
> There will be about 20 stations.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jeff
>
>
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Barcode readers are cheap enough.
Please tell us more about what you actually wish to accomplish.
Putting a BS2 in every car (and engine?) seems like a very expensive
undertaking, unless you only have a very few cars. Is the layout
under computer control? Are you using DCC?
Russ
--- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "Jeff Mitchell" <JMitchell@G...>
wrote:
> I trying to come up with a method for a model train car to passively
> identify the different stations along it's track. The car will have
a BS2 on
> board. I am thinking about a crude barcode scanner on the train and
labeling
> the stations. Are there other methods that might be easier for the bs2?
> There will be about 20 stations.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jeff
>
>
> [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Please tell us more about what you actually wish to accomplish.
Putting a BS2 in every car (and engine?) seems like a very expensive
undertaking, unless you only have a very few cars. Is the layout
under computer control? Are you using DCC?
Russ
Russ,
I am going to install a membrane keypad on a couple of train engines. The
trains will be directed to a certain station on the track by inputting the
station ID on the keypads. I am building the train engines and track myself.
This will be used for a one-off commercial display.
I think I may have the best solution that uses the least processor power...
I can count holes drilled in the track at each station with an optical
switch.
Jeff
>I trying to come up with a method for a model train car to passively
>identify the different stations along it’s track. The car will have a BS2 on
>board. I am thinking about a crude barcode scanner on the train and labeling
>the stations. Are there other methods that might be easier for the bs2?
>There will be about 20 stations.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Jeff
Jeff -
You might consider a series of LED's along side the track which a train could
read by using a photo-diode or other optical means. Use a leading LED to "prime"
the BS-2 scanner, then do a series of checks to see how many LEDs there are.
2^ 2 = 4 possibilities, 2^ 3 = 8 possibilities, 2^ 4 = 16 possibilities, and
2^ 5 gives you 32 possibilities for numbering the stations. One leading
"priming" LED plus 5 station identifiers gives you a total of 6 LEDS to
accommodate 20 stations (actually 32).
So long as the train isn't roaring by the station, I suspect that might be the
least expensive method. Place them far enough ahead of the actual station so the
train can slow down gracefully.
Regards,
Bruce Bates
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>At 09:39 PM 1/31/04 -0500, Jeff Mitchell wrote:
>
>
>>I trying to come up with a method for a model train car to passively
>>identify the different stations along it's track. The car will have a BS2 on
>>board. I am thinking about a crude barcode scanner on the train and labeling
>>the stations. Are there other methods that might be easier for the bs2?
>>There will be about 20 stations.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>
>>Jeff
>>
>>
>
> For what it worth ,,,,
>
A few years ago at work , we used a " optical tachometer " .
That used some tape that was very reflective it appeared to use / have
glass beads in it .
the tape was applied to the shaft or pulley , under test and that
was all the tachometer would see . Maybe you can mark the cross
ties of the track
with reflective material then add a " IR " emitter and
sensor pair under the engine . I would think a simple " serial "
format might be readable .
>
>
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