does anyone know if a speed detection for a model train has been developed?
Like a light sensor that can detect the cross beams passing under a car and send a calculated speed via RF to a receiver somewhere? Certainly seems possible.
Yes, What I was thinking Two IE across the track the beam is broken then down the track 2ft the other IR when that beam is broken it calculates how long it took, then sends that info to a display?
On a layout I'm working on we have a piece of track we use to calibrate the speeds of locos.
The track has several segments that feed back the data when the loco pases over them to the PC which then calculates the speed and adjusts the settings of the software controlling the layout.
We are using Marklin C-track and one of the rails is used as a sensor. When the loco pases over the segment it brings the rail to ground so the electronics can do their part.
I did this with PIC 16f648, I always intended to redo and convert to arduino but not got round to it yet. I didn't use light beams or anything draconian like that, I used current sensing, measured distance of complete lap of layout, time the lap, calculate the speed, factoring in the releative scale, HO, HOe, OO etc. It works very effectively.
Model Train Speedo Part 1 - YouTube <== Background on the test layout.
Model Train Speedo Part 2 - YouTube <== Demonstration of Speedo / Mileometer in action.
Regards,
Graham
Edit: Ops, no I didn't!! I timed an 8ft section to calculate speed, and divide total time by 8ft to give calculated lap..... But the 2 functions are exclusive, 1 PIC is programmed as a speedo, swap chip and the same hardware becomes a mileometer.....