DCC Command Station TCS

When I started with making my own model railroad, I was making decision about control all pieces of my model railroad. I selected digital control DCC. First I studied lot of about DCC and then I was looking for in e-shops DCC components. When I saw prices for this components and functions, then I decided, that I will make own DCC command station named Train Control Station.

Selection of Microcontroller

Selection of a microcontroller wasn’t easy. I worked with lot of microcontrolles in my life and I was selecting from these. First selection was Atmel AtMega32, which I had at home. It wasn’t bad, but I need something with more power for more complex command station.

The next microcontroller was more poweful i.MX6SX from Freescale (now NXP). This microcontroller have two ARM cores and it is possible use with Linux or Android and real-time application too. This solution sounds good, because it will be better for controlling from touch screen and more comfortable showing trains on display. But this microcontroller is too expensive and developer board too. If I ever change my selection I want use the best developer board UDOO (http://www.udoo.org/).

The winner between microcontroller is Kinetis K64F from NXP, too. This have only one ARM core, but it is enough for command station. For develop I used FREEDOM board (FRDM-K64F). This microcontroller isn’t too expensive and it have lot of peripheral.

Communication and control

Now question: “How can I control command station?” I was lookig for on the internet, what is the best controller, I found lot of articles about mechanical wheel for control speed of train. I want use it too, but I decided, that my DCC command station will be able to connect lot of commercial controllers.

Unfortunately I haven’t got any commercial controller and I decided make own controller with own protocol. This protocol it can be used via computer LAN (WiFi), bluetooth or cable. Control for commercial controllers is in plan.

I’m using mobile phone (smartphone) for controlling my command station now. I wrote Android application for my protocol. For more information about this application I’m preparing article.

Testing

For testing I connected DCC signal from my DCC command station to PIKO DIGI 2. Then I connected from my smartphone to DCC command station and control trains. More details are on pictures and videos under the article.

Key features of TCS

(red members are in plan)

Control train (locomotive) with address 1 – 127 (direction, speedm lights, functions)
Control DCC accessories
Add and remove trains in command station
Memory for trains + storing to SD card
Memory for accessories + storing to SD card
Categories for trains and accessories
Search command station in local network and show the address
Connect lot of users with TCS protocol (now with more smartphones)
Check for controlling trains by more than one user
Control lot of trains from one device

Increase address range
Storing photos of trains to SD card
Control via MultiMaus and other commercial controllers
Communication with commercial command stations
Comfortable and easy control
Use crypto for TCS protocol
Add and remove train only administrator
Protocol for receiving data from trains and whole railroad
Statistics – for example distance

Next version will add this features:

Show map of whole railroad model and control from it
Detection trains positions and show it
Detection of turnouts state and show it
Make train way (all turnouts and signals set right for train)
Automatic train control
Collision detection of trains
Show video from cameras

If you have any ideas, please contact me.

Conclusion

Finally, I would like tell, that I still working on this command station and I will add more functions. Now, I say the question: “Can I sell this command station?” Maybe, I will make survey about it and about price. On the end of article are photos and videos of control software.

Donation

If you like this project and you want donate it, you can do it on the right side on this web (Donation). You can donate via PayPal or credit card in Czech currency (Kč), dollar ($) or euro (€). If you want donate anything else for this project, you can Contact me.