4 RCXs to control two trains and one car automatically

[mikezang]

I used four RCXs to control two trains, one car, three switch tracks and one cross leveling, there are five light sensors to check three switch tracks, two light sensors to check cross leveling.

RCX1 is master to control RCX2 and RCX3, then RCX3 is to control RCX4, all programs is run in brickOS.

Now I try to convert this project to PF system so that all wires will be moved.

This is layout and some pictures,

You can view trains and car moving

[Lazarus]

Kool and very clever but what a mess. If you could do this with out seeing all the stuff that it would be kick megablocks

[Phoxtane]

Why does the track need to be elevated off the floor?

[mikezang]

Why does the track need to be elevated off the floor?

I have to pass wire to other side of track so tt I lift up tracks.

Kool and very clever but what a mess. If you could do this with out seeing all the stuff that it would be kick megablocks

I know there are too wires, I thought to make a base with a lot of two layer baseplates, so that I can hide all wires between two baseplates, but I have no so such baseplates, then this is for a contest so time to make base.

[JopieK]

Well, if you want to convert it to PF, I very much recommend using Arduino with it. I just completed our new traincontroller using XBee, I might post a complete topic about how it works including its drawbacks. Simple PF train control with Arduino will be discussed in the next issue of Railbricks.

[mikezang]

Well, if you want to convert it to PF, I very much recommend using Arduino with it. I just completed our new traincontroller using XBee, I might post a complete topic about how it works including its drawbacks. Simple PF train control with Arduino will be discussed in the next issue of Railbricks.

What is Arduino? I am a pure LEGO fan, I only want to use LEGO. Parts to create my MOC, is Arduino hardware or software?

[JopieK]

Arduino is hardware. The charm is: if you plan wisely you can use it without modifying any LEGO at all. I like to use LEGO also as much as possible, that is why I did not like to move towards DCC in the end (you need to open and almost destroy 9V motors for that, you can tell they run less smooth afterwards). That is why I like PF so much. But you will not be able to automatically control trains using PF with pure LEGO I think (simply because you will need to reproduce the PF remote commands and you will need to do that using a microcontroller (RCX, NXT, EV3, Arduino, Raspberry PI, whatever), but if you want to use the same spectrum as LEGO PF you run into the problem that there are no RCX / NXT / EV3 parts that can do that (there are solutions, but propriety).

[mikezang]

Arduino is hardware. The charm is: if you plan wisely you can use it without modifying any LEGO at all. I like to use LEGO also as much as possible, that is why I did not like to move towards DCC in the end (you need to open and almost destroy 9V motors for that, you can tell they run less smooth afterwards). That is why I like PF so much. But you will not be able to automatically control trains using PF with pure LEGO I think (simply because you will need to reproduce the PF remote commands and you will need to do that using a microcontroller (RCX, NXT, EV3, Arduino, Raspberry PI, whatever), but if you want to use the same spectrum as LEGO PF you run into the problem that there are no RCX / NXT / EV3 parts that can do that (there are solutions, but propriety).

Thanks for your explanation.

Like you said, you can use RCX, NXT or EV3 as controller to control PF receiver, why do you still want to use Arduino?

Can you explain more simple or detail?

[JopieK]

well, totally pure is impossible: you will need a non-LEGO part to get the job done. With Arduino you have a lot of advantages: like for my layout, I make light towers with LEDs that include IR LEDs, to distribute the signal I use a radio signal, simple reliable and versatile. Although an RCX is cheap nowadays, the NXT and EV3 are not and they have very limited options. A basic Arduino has 13 digital in/outputs and 6 analog in/outputs. It also includes i2c (like the EV3 and NXT) to connect even more peripherals. A basic Arduino is about 20$ so that saves money for more LEGO bricks :)

[mikezang]

well, totally pure is impossible: you will need a non-LEGO part to get the job done. With Arduino you have a lot of advantages: like for my layout, I make light towers with LEDs that include IR LEDs, to distribute the signal I use a radio signal, simple reliable and versatile. Although an RCX is cheap nowadays, the NXT and EV3 are not and they have very limited options. A basic Arduino has 13 digital in/outputs and 6 analog in/outputs. It also includes i2c (like the EV3 and NXT) to connect even more peripherals. A basic Arduino is about 20$ so that saves money for more LEGO bricks :)

I will try to use one EV3, some RCXs and PF receivers, I will try Arduino if I have no way to do:)

[JopieK]

(you should always try and use Arduino, just by the fun of doing it, I mean, an IR led and a simple Arduino are under 25$).

[mikezang]

(you should always try and use Arduino, just by the fun of doing it, I mean, an IR led and a simple Arduino are under 25$).

This is very charming! LEGO is too expensive!

Can you ask LEGO company to use Arduino as LEGO parts? You know, if I used parts out of LEGO, there will be a lot of potential products as selection, this is what I am afraid...

[JopieK]

I totally agree, but LEGO has different things to consider. For example the LEGO PF LiPo is very expensive, but if my students short it out and then plug the charger back in, it will just reset and work again!!! That is also what you pay for of course. Arduino is not a toy, LEGO is.