This webpage describes how we brought the old train track back to life. There are a total of 5 stations that control different sections of track. These stations powered up different sections of track by receiving a UART signal. Currently there was a Ethernet connection between the 5 different stations that allowed them to be controlled by a remote host. This code was outdated and running on legacy hardware.
Our plan was to replace the Ethernet connection with a BlueTooth connection. This allowed us to run all of the stations from one command center without having to run any cables. We would be able to operate the train from one command center by selecting the route we want the train to take. Each station would be smart enough to power up the appropriate tracks.
While looking at options for setting up the control network we made many design choices. We decided to use a wireless network to reduce the amount of wires required. Previous designs had used a wired connection but we wanted to get away from wires. This left many options open for a wireless connection. We decided to settle on BlueTooth since other groups had worked on it before which suggested that there would be some good documentation about the chips.
We spent a lot of time working on understanding how existing hardware worked. To make it easier for future developers we worked on building a basic guide for interfacing with the hardware.
Job breakdown
Greg
- Repair train track
- Develop circuit design for stations
- Built software for different stations
- Mapped the train network
Jack
- Implemented BlueTooth communication
- Built UI to interface with all the stations
Both
- System integration
- Debugging
- Coded routes