Fully automated level crossing

[alainneke]

For the past few weeks, I've been busy incorporating occupancy detectors in my (DCC) LEGO train layout. To get this to work, I had to create electrically isolated blocks in my layout:

Layout by alainneke, on Flickr

(the little red parts are single pieces of flex track)

All blocks are connected to a couple of occupancy detectors ('ECoSdetector') using track connection wires. When a train enters a block, current is being drawn and the detector will know that there is a train in the block. When it leaves the block, the current stops flowing and the block is 'free' again.

What can you do with this information? Well, for example, you can let robotic cows turn their heads when a train passes. However, I decided to automate the classic 7866 level crossing:

When a train enters block 1:3 (or 2:11, when going the other way round), the crossing closes. When both blocks 1:3 and 2:11 are 'free', the crossing opens again.

Thanks for watching!

[JopieK]

Very nice job!!! Maybe you should do something about the barriers, they move very fast (of course caused by the original point motor units).

[Hrw-Amen]

I wish I knew how to make all this stuff work like that.

[zephyr1934]

The DCC stuff looks great. One idea I used to isolated blocks was packing tape. I stuck two pieces of clear mailing tape together (sticky side to sticky side) then cut out small squares that I slipped into the rail joints. Completely reversible and very discrete.

[Hey Joe]

Very cool, thanks for sharing. I also like your avatar.

What did you use to do the layout drawing if I may ask?

Thanks, Joe

[alainneke]

Thank you all for the kind words!

What did you use to do the layout drawing if I may ask?

The software is called 'RailModeller' (shareware for the Mac, see http://www.railmodeller.com/). It's not specifically made for designing LEGO layouts, but it does contain the 12V, 9V and monorail rail sets.

Edited May 2, 2013 by alainneke

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

Another amazing electric work alainneke!

I love your great train ideas!

[Locomotive Annie]

That is just so cool. Working crossing barrier arms just add so much to a railway layout project.

[ronenson]

Really nicely done. Any idea how to get this working on a RC/PF track?

[alainneke]

Really nicely done. Any idea how to get this working on a RC/PF track?

There was a nice idea in RailBricks 3 (page 19) about this: use the old 9V train motor to operate the level crossing!

Alternatively, you could try to use Mindstorms, and let the infrared sensors take care of train detection.

[ronenson]

There was a nice idea in RailBricks 3 (page 19) about this: use the old 9V train motor to operate the level crossing!

Alternatively, you could try to use Mindstorms, and let the infrared sensors take care of train detection.

Thanks, I re-read RailBricks on this, and it is a neat solution. Incorporating 9v motors in my design however wouldn't really work: they're a bit too expensive and I would need one for every train. I like the infrared idea, I'll let that one settle in for some time.

[JopieK]

I always use reed sensors and also started to use RFID... That works great with a PF system. Tomorrow demo in Wetteren / Belgium (will be there only tomorrow ;)).

It turns out the PF motors have strong enough magnets inside to be detected by a reed sensor, I hope two write articles for Railbricks about that (I promised them already, will finish the series soon I hope).

@Hrw-Amen: start with Arduino, it is very easy to use for non-tech people as well!

[Luke_likes_Lego]

So cool !!!!!

....and very neat....no wire trails dragging everywhere.

My long term goal (when kids are a little older) is to add light and trackside PF.

Nice one alainneke.

Looking forward to your BL article(s) JopieK

LLL

[rebelego]

Cool! Thanks for sharing. Is the level crossing motor driven directly from the ECoS detector or do you use some other decoder unit? Is it possible to configure and use the ECoS detector as a stand-alone unit, or is a ECoS command station required?

[alainneke]

Cool! Thanks for sharing. Is the level crossing motor driven directly from the ECoS detector or do you use some other decoder unit? Is it possible to configure and use the ECoS detector as a stand-alone unit, or is a ECoS command station required?

Thanks! The motors and lights are driven by an ESU SwitchPilot and extension, both powered by a 15VAC power supply. Surprisingly, the motors do not function very well at 12V!

The ECoSDetector can only be used in combination with the ECoS command station (it uses some kind of CAN bus for communication, and all manufacturers seem to keep re-inventing the wheel on this), but you can use any kind of S88 feedback module. Basically, the detector lets the command station know that a specific section of track becomes (un)occupied, and the command station can trigger an event when this happens. I'm not sure if LDCC supports S88, and (as far as I know) most command station rely on a computer do to event triggering.

[rebelego]

Thanks for the info.

I'm not sure if LDCC supports S88, and (as far as I know) most command station rely on a computer do to event triggering.

No, LDCC doesn't support such kind of feedback. It only support a basic set of DCC commands controlled by the old LEGO IR remote, or same signals sent from other devices like the IR tower, the RCX, etc. So, for automated train detection and control I use an RCX with reed-switches attached. The LDCC is very limited, so I'm looking into more advanced stuff. Though, I find the ECoS command station a bit expensive.