PICAXE Model Railroad Speed Controller Software
d. bodnar
revised 11-02-11

Basic Operation After connecting the controller to a source of DC voltage and connecting its output to the track you can use the following keys on the TV Remote to control the train: Channel UP - Increase speed Channel DOWN - Decrease speed Volume UP - Change direction to forward (if not already going forward) Volume DOWN - Change direction to backwards (if not already going backwards) MENU - stop the train remembering the current speed - press MENU again to restart at the same speed and in the same direction

Step-by-Step Startup as Point-to-Point Using Above Software Make sure that the IR sensor is not in direct sunlight OPTIONAL:  Reset all settings Press RETURN Press V-Chip Press EXIT to reset or POWER to abort Point the IR Remote control towards the controller and press the CH UP button until the trolley / train reaches your preferred MINIMUM speed - I generally set this to a crawl You can press the VOL UP and VOL DOWN to reverse while testing the minimum speed Press the MUTE button to set the minimum speed Press the CH UP button until you reach the preferred MAXIMUM speed Again you can use the VOL UP and VOL DOWN buttons to reverse while testing Take note of how many seconds it takes to get from one end of the point-to-point to the other Press the RETURN button - the trolley / train will stop Press the NUMBER 3 button - the LED will flash three times After it has flashed you can type in the 3 digit time (in seconds) that you want the trolley / train to run before reversing.  You MUST enter 3 digits - 009 = 9 seconds, 033 = 33 seconds, 120 = 120 seconds (two minutes), etc.  The maximum time is 255 seconds. After each digit is entered the LED will flash out its value - you MUST wait for this to happen before entering the next digit. After the 3 digits have been entered the train will accelerate to top speed and continue for the set number of seconds before decelerating, reversing and speeding up again. If you have set a minimum speed you can press the POWER button when the trolley / train reaches the point where you want it to decelerate to the minimum speed.  This is generally done a short distance from the end of the point-to-point.

Additional Configuration Modes In addition to mode 3, which was used above in the point-to-point mode, there are three other modes that you can use to set parameters.  To enter Configuration Mode press the RETURN button.  The unit will wait for you to enter 1, 2, 3 or 4.  These numbers select the following configuration modes:     1 Change Maximum Speed - the range is 0 to 255 with 255 being fast and 0 being stopped - note that the current speed is flashed out when this is selected.  For example, if the current speed is 187 the blue LED will flash once, then eight times then seven times.  You cannot enter a new value until the old one is flashed out. 2 Change Minimum Speed - the range is 0 to 255 with 255 - the minimum must be less than or equal to the maximum speed 3 Change Run Time - the range is 0 to 255 -  this is the time (in seconds) that the train will run in one direction before slowing, reversing and speeding up to the same speed.  Entering 0 will disable automatic reversing.  4 Change Acceleration / Deceleration rate - the range is 0 to 255 with 0 being very fast acceleration / deceleration and 255 being very, very slow acceleration / deceleration - the useful range is -0 to about 30.  Beyond 30 the rate is too slow. NOTE:  when in Auto-Reverse mode you must set minimum speed with OK/MUTE button then return to maximum speed with the CH UP button.  Press POWER to set deceleration time / point.

Software 'd. bodnar - 11-02-2011 v6.2 #PICAXE 18M2 #TERMINAL 4800 Symbol Direction1 = b.5 'pin 11 - one high & one low - swap to change direction-if = fast motor stop Symbol Direction2 = b.0 'pin 6 - one high & one low - swap to change direction Symbol Motor = b.3 'pin 9 - PWM output for motor speed Symbol IRSense = b.2 'pin 8 Symbol Aux1 = c.2 'pin 1 - can be used for current sensing - OR OTHER PURPOSES! Symbol Aux4 = c.5 'pin 4 input only Symbol Aux17 = c.0 'pin 17 Symbol Aux18 = c.1 'pin 18 Symbol LEDAmber = c.6 'pin 15 Symbol LEDBlue = c.7 'pin 16 Symbol InfraRED = b27 'store IR value symbol Digit = b26 'Flash Value symbol Value = b25 'Flash Value & Version Symbol ValueTemp = b24 'Flash Value symbol divisor = b23 'Flash Value symbol temp5 = b22 'Flash Value & GetRndOnce symbol temp = b21 'Flash Value & Version Symbol CruiseTime = b20 'Time to run before reversing symbol digitsbyte = b19 'Get number routine Symbol TempByte = b18 'Flash Value & Version & Get IR Num Symbol WaitTime = b17 'pause before reverse Symbol ADRate = b16 'accel / decel rate Symbol DecelTime = b15 'point where decel beings on p-2-p Symbol RndmWait = b14 'RANDOM - needed? Symbol TempWord = w5 'RANDOM - needed? Symbol Loopie0 = w4 'Decel & Random Symbol MinSpeed = w3 Symbol SetSpeed = w2 Symbol DecelFlag = Bit0 '=1 if decel time has caused deceleration otherwise =0 Symbol FwdBkwFlag = Bit1 '=1 if forwrad / =0 if backward Symbol SlowDnFlag = Bit2 '=0 if no slow down point set, =1 if set Symbol Decel2Zero = Bit3 '=1 if we want deceleration to zero, not minimum speed 'Also Using 'Memory 30 for Decel loop start value (word) 'Memory 32 for Decel loop end value (word) 'Memory 34 for time temp storage (byte) Symbol LStart = 0'120'450 Symbol TTrigger = 7000 Symbol Period = 150 Symbol PWMMax = 1023'600 Symbol ChUp = 16 Symbol ChDown = 17 Symbol VolUp = 18 Symbol VolDown = 19 Symbol OK = 20 Symbol Retrn = 59 Symbol One = 0 Symbol Two = 1 Symbol Three = 2 Symbol Four = 3 Symbol Five = 4 Symbol Six = 5 Symbol Seven = 6 Symbol Eight = 7 Symbol Nine = 8 Symbol Zero = 9 Symbol Power = 21 Symbol MENU = 96 Symbol VChip = 14 Symbol Exxit = 99 Symbol VerWhole = 6 Symbol VerDecimal = 2 high direction1:low direction2 VeryTop: Read 0, WORD SetSpeed 'read variables from memory Read 2, WORD MinSpeed Read 4, WaitTime Read 5, ADRate Read 6, DecelTime Read 7, RndmWait Read 8, slowdnflag if DecelTime=0 then DecelTime=WaitTime endif decelflag=0 if deceltime <> waittime then decelflag=1 slowdnflag=1 endif pwmout motor,50,500' set pwm duty pwmduty motor, 0 Pause 500 sertxd("d. bodnar",13,10,"11-02-2011 v6.2",13,10,13,10) '4800 baud @ this clock speed ;Routine to flash out version number of software for tempbyte=1 to VerWhole:high LEDBlue:pause 150:low LEDBlue:pause 150:next tempbyte:pause 400 temp=verdecimal IF temp > 0 then for tempbyte=1 to VerDecimal:high LEDBlue:pause 150:low LEDBlue:pause 150:next tempbyte else high ledblue:pause 10:low ledblue endif Pause 1000 GOSUB ShowReadValues gosub accel time=0 Cruise: Random TempWord if time <=2 then gosub GetRndOnce 'Routine to show time that has passed on Terminal PEEK 34, TempByte if time <> TempByte then sertxd("t=",#time," ") POKE 34, time toggle ledamber endif 'if no auto-reverse (waittime) has been set don't reverse or decel if waittime=0 then goto SkipReverse endif 'Slow down to minspeed if decel point has been set - do it only once via decelflag if time >= DecelTime and decelflag =0 and DecelTime<>CruiseTime then sertxd("@deceltime ",#deceltime," f ",#decelflag,13,10) gosub DecelSet2Min DecelFlag=1 endif 'Run time has expired - bring to complete stop & reverse if time >=CruiseTime then sertxd("Time= ",#time,13,10) time=0 decelflag=0 goto Revers endif SkipReverse: 'Get IR input and act on it {Infrared=255 Irin [1, Cruise],IrSense, InfraRED sertxd("IR= ",#infrared," ") if InfraRED = Power then 'use POWER button to set deleration poing DecelTime=time SlowDnFlag=1 Write 6, DecelTime Write 8, Slowdnflag gosub ShowReadValues endif if InfraRED = OK then 'Mute on Westinghouse Remote - hit it to set minimum speed MinSpeed=SetSpeed Write 2, word MinSpeed Write 8, Slowdnflag gosub ShowReadValues endif if InfraRED = Retrn then GetOption 'after RETURN button choose 1-->4 to set options if InfraRED = VolUp and FwdBkwFlag =0 then ' VOLUME UP and DOWN to change direction FwdBkwFlag = 1 goto revers endif if InfraRED=VolDown and FwdBkwFlag =1 then ' VOLUME UP and DOWN to change direction FwdBkwFlag = 0 goto revers endif if InfraRed = MENU then 'press MENU to pause & save speed or to restart after pausing Sertxd("@ MENU",13,10) if SetSpeed > 0 then POKE 30,WORD SetSpeed if MinSpeed <> 0 then Decel2Zero=1 endif gosub decel SetSpeed=0 disabletime pause 1000 else PEEK 30, WORD SetSpeed gosub accel enabletime endif endif if InfraRED=ChUp then 'CHANNEL UP and DOWN to speed up or down high LEDBlue SetSpeed = SetSpeed +5 pwmduty motor,SetSpeed write 0, WORD SetSpeed Write 8, Slowdnflag sertxd(#setspeed,13,10) else low LEDBlue endif if InfraRED=ChDown then 'CHANNEL UP and DOWN to speed up or down high LEDBlue if SetSpeed > 5 then SetSpeed = SetSpeed -5 sertxd(#setspeed,13,10) endif pwmduty motor,SetSpeed write 0, WORD SetSpeed Write 8, Slowdnflag else low LEDBlue endif} goto Cruise: { GetRndOnce: 'Put time to run train into Temp Random TempWord loopie0=65535/rndmwait Temp5=tempword/loopie0 CruiseTime=WaitTime+temp5 return GetOption: pwmduty motor,0 ; STOP sertxd("@GetO",13,10) pause 1000 StayHere2: Infrared=255 Irin [1, StayHere2],IrSense, InfraRED sertxd("IR= ",#infrared," ") if infrared = VChip then goto ReadyReset: endif if infrared >4 then 'only accepts number buttons 1-->4 goto cruise endif Branch infrared, (speedmax, speedmin, runtime, acceldecelrate, RndmSetting) goto cruise RndmSetting: value = RndmWait gosub flashvalue gosub getirnumber RndmWait=digitsbyte sertxd("RndmWait= ",#RndmWait,13,10) write 7, RndmWait Write 8, Slowdnflag gosub ShowReadValues gosub accel goto cruise: speedmax: value = setspeed gosub flashvalue gosub getirnumber setspeed=digitsbyte sertxd("max= ",#setspeed,13,10) write 0, word setspeed Write 8, Slowdnflag gosub ShowReadValues gosub accel goto cruise: speedmin: value = minspeed gosub flashvalue gosub getirnumber minspeed=digitsbyte sertxd("min= ",#minspeed,13,10) write 2, word MinSpeed gosub ShowReadValues gosub accel goto cruise: runtime: value = waittime gosub flashvalue gosub getirnumber waittime=digitsbyte write 4, WaitTime Write 8, Slowdnflag sertxd("wait= ",#waittime,13,10) time=0 if DecelTime=0 then DecelTime=WaitTime endif gosub ShowReadValues gosub accel goto cruise: acceldecelrate: value = adrate gosub flashvalue gosub getirnumber adrate=digitsbyte write 5, adrate Write 8, Slowdnflag gosub ShowReadValues sertxd("ad= ",#adrate,13,10) goto cruise: ReadyReset: Infrared=255 Irin [1, ReadyReset],IrSense, InfraRED if infrared = Exxit then DoIt if infrared = Power then Cruise goto readyreset DoIt: deceltime=0:setspeed=0:minspeed=0:waittime=0:adrate=0:RndmWait=0:slowdnflag=0 Write 0, WORD SetSpeed Write 2, WORD MinSpeed Write 4, WaitTime Write 5, ADRate Write 6, DecelTime Write 7, RndmWait Write 8, slowdnflag goto VeryTop: AutoReverse: for b0=1 to 10:toggle IrSense:pause 100:next b0 goto cruise} Revers: sertxd("@Revers",13,10) Decel2Zero=1 gosub decel pause 1000 toggle direction1:toggle direction2 gosub accel goto Cruise: Accel: disabletime sertxd("@Accel",13,10) for loopie0= 0 to SetSpeed step 5 sertxd(#loopie0," ") pwmduty motor,loopie0 ; set pwm duty toggle ledblue pause adrate next loopie0 sertxd(13,10) enabletime return Decel: disabletime sertxd("@Decel",13,10) if decelflag=1 then return endif if SlowDnFlag=1 then for loopie0=minspeed to 0 step -3 gosub DecelLoop: next loopie0 goto skip0: endif if Decel2Zero=1 then Decel2Zero=0 for loopie0=setspeed to 0 step-3 gosub DecelLoop: next loopie0 goto skip0: endif DecelSet2Min: sertxd("@DecelSet2Min",13,10) for loopie0= SetSpeed to MinSpeed step -5 gosub DecelLoop: next loopie0 Skip0: sertxd(13,10) enabletime low LEDBlue return DecelLoop: toggle LEDBlue sertxd(#loopie0," ") pwmduty motor, loopie0 pause adrate return FlashValue: 'Flash out current reading sertxd(13,10,"@FV ",#value,13,10) ValueTemp=Value for TempByte= 2 to 0 step -1 if TempByte=2 then divisor=100 endif if TempByte=1 then divisor=10 endif if TempByte=0 then divisor=1 endif Digit=ValueTemp /divisor sertxd("digit ",#digit," ",13,10)' debug Digit temp5=Digit * divisor ValueTemp=ValueTemp - temp5 if Digit=0 then high LEDBlue:pause 50:low LEDBlue:pause 100:pause 600:goto skipover3: endif for temp=1 to Digit high LEDBlue:pause 200:low LEDBlue:pause 200 next temp pause 600 SkipOver3: next TempByte return GetIRNumber: sertxd(13,10,"@GetIR",13,10) DigitsByte=0:digit=3 GetDigits0: Infrared=255 irin [1, GetDigits0],irsense, InfraRED sertxd("IR ",#infrared," ",13,10) if infrared > 9 then return endif infrared =infrared +1 if infrared = 10 then infrared=0 endif if digit=3 and infrared>2 then getdigits0:'can't be above 2hunderds if digit=2 and digitsbyte = 2 and infrared > 5 then getdigits0 if digit=1 and digitsbyte =25 and infrared > 5 then getdigits0 skiprnd: sertxd("Digit= ",#digit,13,10) if infrared=0 then high LEDBlue:pause 50:low LEDBlue endif for tempbyte=1 to infrared:high LEDBlue:pause 200:low LEDBlue:pause 200:next tempbyte DigitsByte=DigitsByte*10+infrared digit=digit-1 pause 200':'command=0 if digit=0 then sertxd("Digitsbyte ",#digitsbyte," ",13,10) return endif goto GetDigits0: ShowReadValues: SERTXD("SPD, MIN, WAIT, AD, RdomWait,DecelFlag ",#setspeed," ",#minspeed," ",#waittime, " ", #adrate," ",#RndmWait," ",#deceltime," ",#b0, 13,10) sertxd ("sdf=",#slowdnflag,13,10) RETURN