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In lugnet.robotics.nxt, David Laswell wrote:
>
> So, what I'm wondering is, if you set up a short section of insulated track, how
> feasible would it be to use an NXT with a Li-Ion battery pack and AC adapter to
> delay a train that's moving too fast? See, what I'm thinking is, if you run two
> trains on that section of track, you could set up some sort of sensor on the
> insulated section (ultrasonic or light seems best, as a touch sensor might not
> work as well on some train designs), and use one of those NXT-to-9V wire
> converters to plug into the train leads. Then when the train hits the insulated
> track, it'll stall out and the NXT sensor will register that it has arrived.
> The NXT would then have to calculate how long it will take for that train to
> complete another circuit and whether it will catch up with the other train.
> Once it has done that, it will need to either let it pass through immediately
> (if it's the slower train), or delay it long enough that it won't run into the
> other train before it gets back to the NXT. Theoretically, the only way a fast
> train should be able to ram a slow train is if the fast train can do a complete
> pass while the slow train is still transferring through the insulated zone.
> Setting up another NXT-insulator on the other side of the loop would fix this,
> though, and even allow the two of them to share data.
>
> Anyways, it's an idea I had, but since I'm unlikely to ever do anything with it
> (I own neither trains nor track, so it'd all have to be theoretical for me), I
> thought I'd toss it out there in case anyone else would care to run with it.
> Also, the same concept should work equally well on Monorail, with an NXT motor
> just being set up to directly control one of the reversing switches.
Block control was fairly common on model train layouts before DCC and other
digital solutions became available. If you do a google search for "block
control" you should find a few references. Yours is a variant of that. It works,
but as you suggest, requires sensors to tell you where trains are. With a simple
loop you would probably need 2 isolated sections to ensure the trains don't get
too close - relying on timing is likely to cause problems. But it should be
doable, even with an RCX.
ROSCO
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: Controlling trains with NXT?
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| (...) Indeed, Steve Hassenplug & I did exactly this at BrickFest 2005 with the GBC trains - we had two trains running around a single loops, but in this case used four isolated sections so that each side fo the loop was under the complete control of (...) (18 years ago, 22-Apr-07, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.robotics.nxt)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Controlling trains with NXT?
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| As some of you are probably aware, there are people who use DCC controls that allow them to operate two trains independantly on the same stretch of track. This system, however, requires that you hack open motor bogeys to install the DCC control (...) (18 years ago, 21-Apr-07, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.robotics.nxt)
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