Raising the Bridge...Automation with Arduino: Pin Count

RE: Raising the Bridge...Automation with Arduino: Pin Count

beacon_dave — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 22:32:13 GMT

Just a passing thought but you don't appear to have any input to tell you if a bus is already on the bridge at the point when the tug enters or leaves the turnaround. So far it is assumed that the bus is approaching the bridge with enough time to stop it and close the gate before raising the ramp and then the bridge. What happens though if the bus is just past the bus halt servo position when either the tug or turnaround sensor is triggered ? The bus will continue onto the ramp/bridge regardless.

Are you just going to add a delay after setting the halt in order for any traffic to clear the bridge before closing the gates and lifting the ramp ?

If it is a single lane on the bridge then there is the added issue of direction of travel of the bus, as you don't want to halt a bus that has already entered the bridge when it finally reaches the far end. Similarly with the gate; the exit gate needs to remain open for the bus to exit the bridge.

RE: Raising the Bridge...Automation with Arduino: Pin Count

beacon_dave — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 14:25:16 GMT

As well as the bridge raising/lowering warning sound, the sound module could also perhaps set off a couple of tugboat horn blasts as it approaches the bridge. This gives the chance to attract people's attention to the fact that something of interest is about to happen over by the bridge so as they don't miss the automation (or collision).

RE: Raising the Bridge...Automation with Arduino: Pin Count

colporteur — Sat, 01 Apr 2023 15:27:35 GMT

I just made a personal discovery, that SG90 servos do not require the signal pin to be connected to an Arduino PWM pin for operation. The signal pin can be connected to any arduino digital pin.

The pinout layout for this project has the signal pins of the servos connected to ~ PWM pins. At least that was what I thought was necessary when I was doing the design. While researching code development I stumbled across this post https://forum.arduino.cc/t/digital-or-pwm-pin-using-servo-h/546624 on the arduino forum.

Who knew? I didn't. I enjoy dabbling in this stuff but find my lack of knowledge slowing me down. Discoveries like this give me satisfaction but they also give me the feeling I'm the guy in the Studebaker in the first right hand lane, reserved for slower movers, on the information highway. If you happen to pass me give me a wave.

RE: Raising the Bridge...Automation with Arduino: Pin Count

beacon_dave — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 17:03:00 GMT

"...Did I size this correctly?..."

If not, "You're going to need a bigger bridge..." [emoticon:c4563cd7d5574777a71c318021cbbcc8]

So I take it that no the bridge lowers briefly whilst the turnaround takes place then opens again once the turnaround is complete and the boat is ready to set sail ?

How are you doing the logic with single switches either side ? Are you keeping track of the boat direction, toggling based on the current state of the limit switches, or just toggling raise/lower each time you hit a switch and hope you don't ever get out of sync ?

Do you need to control the points motor so that the boat departs on the other track than it arrives on or does that rely on the railroad team ? I assume it is basically a loop track with a turnaround siding. Likewise, do you need to control the turnaround ?

Does the LED signage need triggering when the bridge is closed to traffic ?

Perhaps trigger some sea shanties whilst on the turnaround [emoticon:96191f836ed544d089a3a9758ea6d76a]

"...You will have a fishy on a little dishy; you will have a fishy when the boat comes in..." [emoticon:e45a7f66f0c548b29fe4386202996958]

What's that ? I'm banned from the model railroad club for life ?