DIY Wifi Controlled Engines

[MiniNorthWestern]

Hi there!
This first post is just a quick introduction to how I have put things together to control my engines via wifi.
I will be adding further posts to this thread over time detailing how it all works.

Everything I'll be posting here is very much a proof of concept / tinkering, so please excuse the messy wiring etc!
The brains of the operation is a £7.50 Raspberry Pi Pico W, with a supplementary motor driver board.

Quick list of what I have so far:

• Control of all functions via a web page
• Basic motor speed control
• Multiple channels of lighting for the engine
• Diy Stay Alive/Rectifier

What I hope to add in future:

• Advanced motor control with accel/deceleration rates
• Engine sounds
• Control of coach lighting
• Automatic running/stopping at platforms via schedule
• Probably loads more!

Raspberry Pi Pico W in situ:


The Pi has a Motor Driver board/hat installed on it:


And the web dashboard I created for controlling the engine:

[Bigmet]

I foresee much dribbling on keyboards from people who love the 'cab' interface you are developing for controlling the locos...

[End2end]

Shouldn't the speedometer go up to 11 ? ..... er .. I mean... 125?

With the size of the Pi boards, I wonder if they can be made smaller to fit into smaller locos?
Those green connections for example. I wonder if the wires could be soldered directly to the board connections reducing the overall height.
Thanks
End2end

[MiniNorthWestern]

Shouldn't the speedometer go up to 11 ? ..... er .. I mean... 125?

Good spot, you're quite right!

With the size of the Pi boards, I wonder if they can be made smaller to fit into smaller locos?

This is my proof-of-concept engine, so watch this space!

[End2end]

This is my proof-of-concept engine, so watch this space!

The space(bar) was the first thing to catch my eye. Groovy!
Thanks
End2end