JopieK

You didn't set you images public, otherwise Eurobricks will convert links automagically to images.

Thanks for sharing @jirin! Great: nice and simple.

I just finished programming the headlights of my 10277 Croc using an Attiny1616 and put the Eagle files and Arduino code on GitHub: https://github.com/jakorten/10277_lights/. B.t.w. That is part of the fortunates of being a software teacher, we can 'enforce' such a rules at least to some point ;) A colleague of mine uses the MBED with Keil in his advanced microcontroller course. We might go for the SAMD21 or something in our introduction course, now we are still using the Atmega328 (Xplained Mini) with Atmel Studio and the latter is obsolete. We let the students do everything themselves though, no Arduino allowed (although we allow it in higher year courses though).

It seems to be difficult to find it exactly but here is at least part of it (from moba-hgh.de): Top: normal train operation (engine only). Second: both looks have an engineer (I think the second lok should have 3 white front lights as well). Third: front engineer only and controls both engines, loc behind pushes. Fourth: engine at the back is linked to engine at front. Fifth: loc behind pushes, both locs are not linked together and both have their own engineer. This is for a train that is in 'pendel' operations (across a line back and forth). Above engine is at front. Below engine pushes at the back. There is a cabine / driver stand at the other end in which the driver can control the locomotive. Other combinations, this is for a train entirely built of locomotives. The person from moba-hgh also added his/her interpretation for a single locomotive, three whites at the frond and behind a single red light. For shunting operations: Top is in a shunt yard. Bottom is on a main line. And then emergency signals: So I guess I need to solder that red LED anyways to the other bottom position too :) Even though when international trains are used that can't show the upper red, they still can show both reds at the bottom. For the Be 6/8 lenses are used for red as you can see here: I added a red light also to the right side and built the PCB into the front: I also added all the source code and Eagle PCB schematics and board I created to GitHub.

Apparently the Swiss have a complex signaling system for their train lights called the "Schweizer Lichtwechsel". I hope I have analyzed it well enough from the € 3500 Märklin set (see this video). I added a light to the front and the tail in the middle. The original engine has has at least two lights at left / right. At least the left light has two colors (white / red). The right might have that as well but it is not needed for typical functioning of the Swiss system I guess, so for now I left out the red LED. Another improvement might be to add warm wide LEDs instead of those really white LEDs. I already soldered the second pcb for the other side of the train. Next challenge will be to get the perfect main microcontroller and a way to power everything, maybe I'll tap it from the second port of the PU box or something. For the tech folks: I created a custom tiny pcb (circuit board) with a tiny1616 8-bit microcontroller (more than powerful enough for light control). I use it also for track side signals. The main microcontroller can send commands over i2c (some data interface) to the light controller, for testing I used an UNO but for the final version I will use probably something like a SAMD21 (32-bit Cortex 0 Microcontroller) and connect it over either WiFi or BLE. N.b. I don't show all the possible combinations but I for now programmed these commands: #define allOff 0x00 #define topRed 0x01 #define topWhite 0x02 #define threeWhites 0x03 #define leftRed 0x04 #define leftWhite 0x05 #define rightWhite 0x06 Switching off lights uses the 0x00 command and then right after one could send e.g. a left white lamp.

5V is out of the 8-bit ages, most 32-bit controllers run on 3.3V. For the rest of your questions, see: https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESP32

Same for me I only got normal formal (general) software engineering training. Believe me, 'normal' software engineering deals much more with the topics Martin hammers on. I started working at my current school (even though I worked in the same college for quite some years now) and even while we have some good programmers, they much more focus on the micro level than on the macro level of programming (I think both are important especially if we need to prepare undergraduate students for a solid embedded software engineering career). But on the other hand I also see gaps in the industry, some embedded companies e.g. already include CI/CD but most don't.

Haha, I noticed, but the start is there. Code can always be improved. We plan to give our embedded systems students six Uncle Bob lectures, but I myself also struggle to get clean code and clean architecture in an embedded setting. Using FreeRTOS might help but I am also not at the point yet that I'm satisfied with my own typical code. E.g. in Swift it is much easier to do that than in C/C++.

Great! I just ordered the book on FreeRTOS from Elektror for the ESP32. Maybe I should order some ESP32 modules. On the other hand I might use your example to do the same using an nRF52 / SAMD21 combination.

I spot some featurism here ;) I think an RTOS is often a good idea but am not sure about simpler uC applications. I would like a good RTOS for Raspberry Pi though, would be great to use it as a main controller that does all the in-between stuff (probably with node-red at the highest system level?!). An RTOS for the Pi should be doable but one needs to recompile a whole lot and I had trouble running Debian and Ubuntu in a virtual machine on an USB device last time I tried. About those great things like dual core: With microcontrollers always remember that you should optimize: power, performance and e.g. peripherals, everything has its pro's and con's: there is no free lunch, if you want dual core, great but your application will consume more power etc. About the programming, it is indeed difficult to make software that is fully 'Uncle Bob proof' without an RTOS, on the other hand that is not always a problem, you can split systems in modules and a module is already a contained, loosely coupled entity of course, so only for your main control system you really need an RTOS I would say. E.g. for signals I use an Attiny uC, you can just give it a command over e.g. i2c. An RTOS would be a total overkill there. Even for the control post that controls maybe a few signals, it only has that task, controlling signals. I am working on a SAMD21-based controller turntable controller, for now I included a LoRa and nRF52 (actually XBee compatible header). Apart from that, for me the largest challenge is, what would be the best wireless protocol for controlling everything. I mean, both WiFi and BLE have their pro's and cons. The promise of BLE 4.2 / 5 being meshable sounded promising but I have not seen a great working proof of concept anywhere?!

Aha, looks really awesome, worked out very well.

How did you do the light and sound? Also seems you use much beefier motor control than the typical LEGO Technic elektronics! Great job, my wife thought there was a fire nearby, she is more into Technic than I so I sent it to her :)

Is Abellio also taking over now with the trains from NS in the UK? Both trains are very recognizable, before COVID I met both types usually on a daily base.

No problem. Well I don't know exactly, but after some struggles I have moved to Studio, also a vivid Mac user. Hope there will be an ARM port soon though.

3 - 1 point 8 - 1 point 15 - 1 point

Reminds me of the Gerudo fortress of Zelda BOTW! Very cool!

Welcome to Eurobricks, the report function is only used if you think some post is violating rules. I now use Studio (bricklink) on my Mac.

Haha you are right of course. Maybe that is just the difference between the Swiss and German engineering ;) (just kidding of course).

It does, but only if you are a new member, maybe we should set different limits on that. @Duq, it (studio) is indeed a steep learning curve, but it is at least easier than Fusion 360 :)

Here also a nice video from a German crocodile. It is a museum locomotive, but they make some extra money (30 trips per week) to help the hypermodern Siemens Dispolok (diesel) carrying 2000 ton junk iron over a mountain. Engineer said: the computer electronics in the dispolok make up their own mind, for the 50+ year old croc it is the other way around: the driver makes up his mind and the engine follows. B.t.w. they call it "Eisenschwein" -> Ironpig instead of Crocodile.

Welcome to Eurobricks. Please leave modding to moderators and regulators.

I just picked up my first 10277 at my in-laws! My sister-in-law was so kind to pick one up in a local toy store that still had one... And now LEGO also set a message that they have the item in the warehouse and will ship it to me soon. Seems there was also a run to get the train in local toy stores though... We don't believe TLG anymore if they say such a sets don't sell... maybe they also realize it when they said this could be a first set of a new line. @Amoreternum, € 3500... We should never complain about the price of LEGO anymore even though we can't build scenery from waste of course (like a in the model railroad building world...).

Nice idea, but it is not really clear how you did it, so you could add some more views from different angles and remove unused background parts. B.t.w. welcome at Eurobricks and Train Tech, while you are in here, see also some of the tips in my signature.

Hey guys/gals, chill out... If you threw mud at each other you not only get your hands dirty but also loose a lot of ground We know how things work with LEGO don't we. They produce very high quality (mainly) ABS bricks, but they tend to always take some middle ground. And you can easily see why... That train from Brickmania is gorgeous. I especially like those drive / piston elements. But they as a price for it that is insane for our understanding, even though model railroad engines do cost also maybe even more (https://www.maerklinshop.de/en/maerklin/gauge-h0/locomotives/steam-locomotives/61086/class-4000-steam-locomotive). 10277 is an OK set, we get a nice idea and a lot of parts in a color that isn't too bad (dark green would have been better of course), but it is what it is and only at 110 € (at least in NL). Leaves us enough room and options to MOD I would say :)

Really nice addition to the train @zephyr1934, they should have contacted you in the first place to add it to every set!