Newbie Automation

[mjstephens]

This is my first post so go easy on me!

There seems to be some very comprehensive tech for automation but I want to start small, and cheap, before expanding my son's layout.

Ultimately what I'd like to achieve in the first instance is a way to stop a train running through buffers. I'm imagining a sensor that detects the passage of a train before the buffer and sends a stop command to the unit. Alternatively, the train itself has a red light sensor that cuts power on approach.

I have the 60197 train, lots of cheap Chinese track and the Powered Up controller.

What do I need to buy to achieve this basic automation?

Thanks in advance

[dr_spock]

You would need a sensor like the 88007.   If you want it outside of the train at the side of the track, then another Powered UP hub (battery box) to connect it to.   Also a smartphone or tablet and the Powered UP app version 3.0 or later.

https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/color-distance-sensor-88007

 

[mjstephens]

Many thanks. I've ordered the sensor. Seems like a much simpler solution than I'd anticipated and that I could use different colours for different commands such as reduced speeds for corners.

Appreciate the advice

[aawsum]

I would say it depends a lot on what you want to achieve in the future. Lego sensors are great, but limited (till now) and not cheap.
If you want to automate more in your layout, then I would advice to look at other options. For myself I learned a lot from the series of video's on this channel "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyvLxhkuFuukFxgYQx2eB9g".

Based on these ideas I started with arduino automation and can now manage yard automation, switch movement, stopping/starting and railcrossings and where I started with everything in a single way this has grown to a very nice automation of our layouts that we show on Legoworld.

I would say view some of the video's in the link and then share your thoughts.

[zephyr1934]

On 2/27/2020 at 11:58 AM, mjstephens said:

before expanding my son's layout.

Ultimately what I'd like to achieve in the first instance is a way to stop a train running through buffers. I'm imagining a sensor that detects the passage of a train before the buffer and sends a stop command to the unit. Alternatively, the train itself has a red light sensor that cuts power on approach.

Hey, running through the buffers is half the fun!

But yes, adding automation can be even more fun. My only suggestion is to have realistic expectations. To automate the train using the PUP interface means you are doing all controls via the smart phone or tablet while you are automated (not the stand alone remote, you can restart the train and switch back to the remote, you just can't do both at the same time). Also, I don't think if it is possible to have the sensor on looking for a stop point AND be able to use the phone controls to manually tell the train to do something. I think you have to be either fully automated or fully manual at any given moment, you can switch back and forth, but you can't do both at the same time.

Now with the sensor there is a lot of fun stuff you can do, like make the train stop at a station, or run back and forth on an open ended track, a great programming experience to overcome the challenges- which colors does the sensor respond to, how do you get it to move but not respond to the current color it is over (time delay of 2 sec of movement before it starts to look for the color again), etc. Depending on your programming abilities and your son's interest/age this could be a great learning opportunity.

With two trains or two set ups, you could do a mix of one manual train and one setup that automatically responds to the train, e.g., having a wayside switch that changes depending on what the train did, or a grade crossing that closes before train goes by, or even a "follow the leader" train like Dr_Spock posted within the past month. Just keep in mind that you essentially have to pay the cost of a second train to do it.

As others have said, a fully automated layout would be REALLY expensive to do it pure lego, but having one automated thing is still fun.

[Tcm0]

40 minutes ago, zephyr1934 said:

Hey, running through the buffers is half the fun!

But yes, adding automation can be even more fun. My only suggestion is to have realistic expectations. To automate the train using the PUP interface means you are doing all controls via the smart phone or tablet while you are automated (not the stand alone remote, you can restart the train and switch back to the remote, you just can't do both at the same time). Also, I don't think if it is possible to have the sensor on looking for a stop point AND be able to use the phone controls to manually tell the train to do something. I think you have to be either fully automated or fully manual at any given moment, you can switch back and forth, but you can't do both at the same time.

The app suplies self-configurable remote layouts, so you can do a mix of automation and remote control (like go forward if the slider is up but stop anyways if there is something in front of the train)

[zephyr1934]

22 hours ago, Tcm0 said:

The app suplies self-configurable remote layouts, so you can do a mix of automation and remote control (like go forward if the slider is up but stop anyways if there is something in front of the train)

Yes, I spoke too soon, it looks like you can also code up the blocks to take input from the user interface on the phone/tablet in your program, as per here (note the custom controller blocks and the composite blocks at the very end) and even use the tilt sensors in the phone or tablet as inputs.