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Dan Worth edited this page Jun 7, 2018 · 8 revisions

Welcome to the ESP8266sensorScanner wiki!

This project has evolved from a scheme to track a train around a layout (described here: https://sites.google.com/site/wifiblockdetection/) into one where I control the motor and lighting on a Faller Road System Vehicle using a web interface.

The FallerVehicle fork (https://github.com/dtworth/ESP8266sensorScanner/tree/FallerVehicle) contains a sketch that runs on an ESP-01 and uses all four available GPIO pins to do the following:

  • Control the speed of the motor using GPIO1 PWM output via a 2N3906 transistor.
  • Control the right turn LED signal using GPIO0 and the left turn signal LED using GPIO4. Because there are a limited number of pins available, the brightness of both LEDs is adjusted to simulate brake lights. The brightness of the LEDs is controlled using PWM output.
  • Cause the motor to stop when a sufficient infrared level is detected using an IR Phototransistor via GPIO3. The source of the IR signal can be a pair of infrared LEDs on the rear of a vehicle or a stand-alone LED used as a stop signal at an intersection or construction site. One could also use the reed switch already installed in the Faller Vehicle to stop the vehicle using a magnet under the road. The brake lights also actuate. See this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OF0FiHNe18

Although I carry the code for tracking vehicles, I am not sure how accurate, reliable or useful it will be when using Faller Road System vehicles. Commenting out this portion of the code might save some battery power.

I hope to include a telnet interface that allow more real-time control of a vehicle either from computer or a iPhone app. I would also like to be able to adjust and store parameters such as acceleration, deceleration rates,

I might also try to write a version that uses a WEMOS D1 mini Pro which has more GPIO pins available and also has an analog input pin. An analog input pin would be helpful for adjusting the detection threshold for the IR Phototransitor signal.

More details about Faller Vehicles can be found here: https://sites.google.com/view/fallervehicles/home

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