Webtrain Decoupling

1
Webtrain Decoupling

• Adam Kadolph
• EE451
• Bradley University
• Advisors Dr. Irwin, Dr. Schertz

Week 1-6 Monday 11/20
2
Outline

• Project Goals
• Introduction
• System Operation
• Week 1-6 Progress
• Timeline of Events
• Review Sensors
• Where is the Project Going?

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Project Goals

• The goal of the project is to design a system to
  automatically decouple cars from the webtrain.
• The system will be able to decouple a specific
  car upon request.
• A sensor to detect train position

4
Introduction

• The Webtrain is an N-Gauge Scale model train.
• The train is controlled through the Digital
  Command Control (DCC) System
• Packets of data sent to train
• Each locomotive has a special receiver circuit
  built in
• The locomotive can decode DCC Signal sent
• Several trains running at various speeds in
  different direction at once

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Introduction

• The Webtrain Decoupling System is a 4th
  Generation project for the webtrain.
• 2002 Webtrain Built
• 2003 Web Interface
• 2005 DCC System and Current Sensing
• 2006 Decoupling System

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System Operation

• Two modes of decoupling
• Manual Mode
• User Commands
• Foreward
• Backward
• Stop
• Automatic Mode
• User Commands
• Car select for decoupling

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Week 1 Progress

• Understand Webtrain System
• DCC System
• Decoupling
• Wrote first draft of functional description
• Start Website

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Timeline Week 1
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Week 2 Progress

• Worked on getting DCC system running
• Continued work on Website
• Turned in first draft of functional description

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Timeline Week 2
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Week 3 Progress

• Train running through DCC system
• Mounted decouple magnet on bypass track
• Successfully decoupled several cars from the
  train using DCC system

12
Timeline Week 3
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Week 4 Progress

• Spent Morning understanding previous years code
• Added plenty of comments in code
• Afternoon spent working on my own coding
• Implemented new menus
• Added corresponding function to menus

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Timeline Week 4
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Week 5 Progress

• Remounted decoupling magnet on bypass lane
• Finished coding of manual decoupling aspect of
  project
• Accomplished several decoupling runs
• Added weights to trains for improvements

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Timeline Week 5
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Week 6 Progress

• Took measurements of track, train, and decoupler
  to determine sensor limitation
• Researched Optical Sensors
• Ambient Light Photo Sensor
• Reflective Photo Sensor
• Phototransistor
• Website Update

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Timeline - Week 6
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Sensors

• Ambient Light Photosensor
• Detection of three levels of ambient light
• Analog adjustable gain for levels
• Digital Output
• Dimensions (4.0mm x 3.2mm x 1.1mm)
• Reflective Photosensor
• Emitter and Detector in one package
• Dimensions (3.4mm x 2.7mm x 1.5mm)
• Phototransistor
• Fall back sensor
• Mounted below track

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Where is the project going?

• Decoupling System
• Collision Avoidance
• RFID tags

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Questions? Comments.

• END