Computer-Controlled Railroad Simulator

Adrian Andersonhttp://compsci.snc.edu/cs460/andeaj/

Project Description Create a model railroad simulator Show graphic representation of trains, turnouts,

and sensors Allow for a custom track design Receive hardware commands from external

programs, and send response commands back Allow the user to recreate certain conditions Simulate hardware failure

Solution Computer-Controlled Railroad Simulator Written in Visual Basic 2005, using .NET

Simulator Internally stores the state of trains, turnouts,

and sensors Moves trains around a virtual track Interface for controlling the track and trains Simulation of ideal, controlled railroad

conditions Check for train collisions “Disasters” – see what happens when things go

wrong

Track Editor Track data stored in an XML file Loaded and stored in an internal database Fully customizable Allows for many different track arrangements

Communications Receives NMRA standard digital railroad

controller packets External programs can interface with the

simulator as if it were a real railroad Change train speed and direction Request state of all sensors Good for testing programs like the Train

Operating System

Methodology Problem: Represent track as computer data Solution:

Junctions Segments, which go from junction to junction Turnouts, which connect two segments at a junction Sensors, which are connected to segments

Methodology Problem: Save and store track data Solutions:

Internal Storage: DataSet Class Visual Basic class, relational database ReadXML command reads and interprets XML files

External Storage: XML Easy to read, interpret, and edit Standard format for miscellaneous data Easy to validate Easy to use in Visual Basic programs

Methodology Problem: Collision detection Solution:

Collision table Train’s movement leaves records in the collision table Compare a train’s potential destination with collision

table records on the same segment/junction If two records overlap, then the trains crash Sensor detection: Trains “collide” with sensors to

activate them

Methodology Problem: Collision detection Solution:

Collision table Train’s movement leaves records in the collision table Compare a train’s potential destination with collision

table records on the same segment/junction If two records overlap, then the trains crash Sensor detection: Trains “collide” with sensors to

activate them

Exceptions Saved state of trains and track Save status log to a file XML validation Preset train types More labels in simulator window

Demonstration

Learning & Development References

MSDN Library Win 32 System Services: The Heart of Windows 95

and Windows NT CS Concepts

Database – track representation, track editor Operating Systems – pipe communication, threading

Extensions Read more types of hardware packets Advanced collision detection More detailed graphical layout More detailed object information

Advice Start early Set concrete goals with deadlines Meet those deadlines Update journal often with small updates

Questions?