(Tutorial) How to make a Train simulator controller with Arduino

The start of an interesting project. I hope you find it useful!
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Software
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www.arduino.cc...
www.dropbox.co...
github.com/MHe...
www.pjrc.com/t...
drive.google.c...
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Music
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George Street Shuffle by Kevin MacLeod incompetech.com
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"Apero Hour" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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[@123456vald]

Most of the time I don't comment on videos, but for this one you changed the way how I'm playing this simulator, thank you very much for the explanation, all the documentation and tools! 🙏🏻 😁

[@Duke49th]

Nice tutorial/explanation. Perfect for noobs like me who have literally no soldering and/or electronic and (almost no) programming skills. I cannot afford a raildriver controller. Well I technically can, but have family to feed and not even sure how long I will use it so I won't blast hundreds of dollars on something I might only use for couple of weeks. So...thanks for this. I might be able to build a very simple 4 lever controller myself.

[@electromotive]

Excellent video! This will help aton in building my controller thanks you!

[@arjenteunissen8235]

Great! Thanks for sharing your work!

[@WesternTrainSpotterUK]

Hi can you make a tutorial on how to make it with the spring return 2 way joystick?

[@nopuedomas2006]

Buenas de nuevo, Estoy metido de lleno en la construcción de unos mandos para el simulador usando Arduino. No quiero molestarte mucho pero querría hacerte una pregunta: Tuviste problemas de bouncing con los rotary encoders? Veo que van muy bien en el vídeo. Si tuviste bouncing cómo lo solucionaste? Muchas gracias. Saludos

[@dutchtrains544]

I want to use serial data. The train im using only uses a ControlName but no ControleType or ControlGroup. How do i do this?

[@nopuedomas2006]

Buenas. Gracias por compartir el vídeo! Querría si es posible hacerte un par de preguntas: 1- estoy pensando en hacerme un controlador. Aún no se si con Arduino o no. De todas formas, este que has creado necesita estar enchufado a la corriente o simplemente al usb del ordenador? 2- El tren que usas para la demostración es de Armstrong Powerhouse? En sus descripciones de productos indican que no son compatibles con controladores externos tipo XBOX o Raildriver. Este tuyo el ordenador lo “ve” como controlador o como teclado? Es decir, sabes si es compatible con productos de Armstrong Powerhouse? Mil gracias y enhorabuena por el vídeo! Un saludo.

[@AlvaroLR]

Hola, de nada! Para hacer un controlador basico (solo los controles, sin luces ni servos) puede alimentarse a traves del usb que se utiliza para conectarlo al ordenador. No necesita nada mas. No recuerdo si es el de Armstrong, pero en si el juego ve el Arduino como si fuera un mando Direct Input, no XBox. En principio funciona con los controles basicos del juego.

[@nopuedomas2006]

@@AlvaroLR Gracias por responder. Perdona mi ignorancia pero un mando Direct Input es como si conectas el teclado? He buscado pero no encuentro a nadie que especifique si un controlador casero funciona con trenes de Armstrong Powerhouse (son básicamente los que estoy interesado en usar). Gracias!

[@AlvaroLR]

@@nopuedomas2006 Los de Direct Input son por ejemplo los controladores que utilizan para simuladores de aviones y coches. Yo diria que si te serviria utilizar el Arduino para los de Armstrong por que no haces mas que controlar las funciones basicas del juego, no es nada especial.

[@nopuedomas2006]

@@AlvaroLR De acuerdo. Quizá lo intente primero sin usar Arduino y después me meta con ello. Muchas gracias!

[@BB22210]

Hello thank you for this video. I have question : what are the TS2020 variables/levers that can be trapped by the arduino ? Is DUE borad Ok ? How can pressure indicators can be active ? Is Raildriver and Joystick software is free of charge ? Do you need some specific dll to make it work ? did you develop part in C# for datas exchange ?

[@AlvaroLR]

I think it can catch all of the controls in the cab, those have to be configured for each cab in a different section of the program (instructions are in the program's documentation IIRC). I dont remember if pressure indicators can be trapped, but if they can the arduino would receive the raw pressure number (in documentation too) and you'd have to program it to show it in a display or move a servo

[@mikebestgames]

Hello! I love the work you have done here and i've been trying to make something like this myself that looks all fancy and stuff. I just don't know how the electronics work. would you maybe be interested in helping me a bit with the coding? I wanna use a potentiometer because I kinda know how those work so I could do some trouble shooting if needed (and because I already have some lol) and also if possible I would like to only use 1 poteniometer for both brake an throttle (where you have the cruise in the middle if you know what I mean). if you would help me it would be very very much appreciated!! we'll get in touch if your interested!

[@AlvaroLR]

Hi. There are plenty of tutorials in how to use a potentiometer with an Arduino (analog inputs). For a combined brake/throttle handle, you just need to know which value corresponds to thad middle point, and program it so that from that point onwards, the value represents the throttle and donwards the brake. Basically 2 "if" sentences plus some interpolation to transform the analog input value to the value you send as joystick inputs. Once i finish designing my controller with all the switches, lights and handles i will do a tutorial, but cant say when thatll be. Hope this helped !

[@Peppiepro]

do you think you can add a 3D printed lever to the switches?

[@AlvaroLR]

Yes, that is the goal ! Although i will be using potentiometers instead of encoders

[@Peppiepro]

@@AlvaroLR Maybe make another video using those. Also, I don't understand anything of the coding, so I will probably just copy it and tweak it.

[@AlvaroLR]

I will do a video once I build a cab controller with all the switches, lights, handles, etc

[@dinorecords1346]

Hey Amazing, how do code the arduino to perform an action when is read from the serial data

[@AlvaroLR]

Around the 3:38 mark you see how it's done in the code, in that case for the AWS Warn. It first checks if the message (data{0}) is of the AWS: kind and then the specific AWS message AWSWarnCount. If all of the above is true, then it checks the value of that message (value, which is actually the integer value of data{2})

[@dinorecords1346]

@@AlvaroLR Thanks for the awnser,.My train has data called GroepSchaakUit: 0 or GroepSchaakUit: 1. How do i send the custom data to the serial because i cant select that in the output data tab

[@AlvaroLR]

@@dinorecords1346 Cant remember how its done exactly, youll have to look at the manual that comes with the software. What i remember is that, once the program checks the trains in your library, you can open a menu where it lists the data set of that train and you can assign em

[@mickelcraft5685]

Больше видео про real train mod minecraft

[@AlvaroLR]

Сделаю видео для управления поездом RTM с помощью Arduino

[@mrmauam3086]

is this working with an Arduino Uno board?

[@AlvaroLR]

I'm afraid not. The library i use to emulate a controller has this support list github.com/MHeironimus/ArduinoJoystickLibrary/wiki/Supported-Boards

[@dutchtrains544]

What arduino code is used to read the serial data from the joystick interface?

[@AlvaroLR]

All the libraries and software i used is in the description (the links)

[@dutchtrains544]

@@AlvaroLR thanks, my joystick interface works fine, but when sending serial data to my arduino it freezes. Are you familiar with this ? And do you know a fix?

[@AlvaroLR]

@@dutchtrains544 I didnt encounter that problem, check how your code handles that serial data and if there are any loops in the code that can be infinite

[@mickelcraft5685]

Похоже я первый

[@AlvaroLR]

Вы правы !

[@WesternTrainSpotterUK]

Hi can you make a tutorial on how to make it with the spring return 2 way joystick?