Locomotive cockpit ( cabin )

C

chevvits007

New member
Hello!

I have some idea, but i don`t know how to release it. I want to create locomotive cockpit, which I can connect to PC and use for playing Trainz: Throttle ring, Brake, and switches, buttons for lights, horn or other things. To create it i have no problems, but connect to PC i have problems. How can I make it compatible with PC, i need to use Arduino, Visual Studio.. or what? Someone have experience with something like this?
CFF_Simu_Re_460_cabine_Morat.JPG


854ae482a2b6.jpg



I think something like this, but easier, only with light switches, Throttle ring, reversor, brake, horn.

Can someone help?

Thanks, Richard
 
Last edited:
Basically an arduino with a keymapping program would work just fine. I was considering buying an old control stand from a GP locomotive and doing the same when money permits, with a functional locomotive radio from the same engine. (I technically can own a transmitting radio per my amateur radio license)
You'll need many arduinos, unless you get a Mega.
 
The arduino is the board that takes the input data from switches, knobs, etc. and sends a command to your computer to press a key.
So no you cannot. Unless you use a different platform like parallax which I'm still learning.
 
Take a look at Raildriver. It's a home version of train controls that works with RW and Trainz. It's not cheap though. About $300 for the controller.

The Arduino sounds like an A/D controller. You would need some kind of drivers to interface between the game and board, I would assume. This would be another whole package to think about and probably would have to be written.

John
 
JCitron said:
Take a look at Raildriver. It's a home version of train controls that works with RW and Trainz. It's not cheap though. About $300 for the controller.

The Arduino sounds like an A/D controller. You would need some kind of drivers to interface between the game and board, I would assume. This would be another whole package to think about and probably would have to be written.

John
Click to expand...

Last time I recall, Raildriver is only XP Compliant. My friend had one and I could never get it to work on Windows 7.
 
Those are two wonderful looking cabins! (I presume the first one is a professional training simulator). I have built a much simpler version, based around the Raildriver, with some tactile feedback via a low-frequency audio amplifier and a couple of "bass-shakers". This gives a lovely rumble in the seat of the pants when passing over points or with a diesel engine under acceleration. I am convinced that proper physical feedback using actuators (as with flight sim and racing) would add much to the driver experience. This is where the current game engine is lacking as it does not export in-game realtime values which would enable e.g. pitch, tilt acceleration decceleration and turning forces to be simulated.
I intend to raise this issue at the appropriate time in the TEG. Even some simple code to write data to an external port would be welcome in T2.

Richard
 
richardjh said:
Those are two wonderful looking cabins! (I presume the first one is a professional training simulator). I have built a much simpler version, based around the Raildriver, with some tactile feedback via a low-frequency audio amplifier and a couple of "bass-shakers". This gives a lovely rumble in the seat of the pants when passing over points or with a diesel engine under acceleration. I am convinced that proper physical feedback using actuators (as with flight sim and racing) would add much to the driver experience. This is where the current game engine is lacking as it does not export in-game realtime values which would enable e.g. pitch, tilt acceleration decceleration and turning forces to be simulated.
I intend to raise this issue at the appropriate time in the TEG. Even some simple code to write data to an external port would be welcome in T2.

Richard
Click to expand...

I'm interested on this, definetively, after seeing how my father did it some years ago. His idea was to put a speaker under the seat, with his jack connected to an amplifier with the bass at maximum, he used it in FSX but since he let me his PC to play Trainz, and when I took a diesel engine, feeling the vibrations all along my body, wow man, it was like being in a real locomotive. I want to do this now, but dont know how. I have read about Bassshakers, Buttkickers, Racing Games seats and others, but I'm lost in how to made it. By now I have a broken speaker, a deskchair and a little amplifier, but I'll see the idea of buying some bassshakers from Germany (8 Days of shipping to my home)

For the OP
Check this program, and this page, the author is still in trainz, but the project not

http://s103.photobucket.com/user/R_E_N_F_E/library/Cabina 269?sort=3&page=1

P.S. Looks like the author deleted the page, but I will search about the program he used to recognize the controls, It's a porgram to assign KB keys to a movement from a joypad, like the PlayStation's dualshock, but you can easily make it to another purpose

Keep it up, as im interested on this too. My father actually have an almost real cockpit cabin of a Boeing with some real dials from old real planes that he bought in the net. With working keys and others but is very very hard to make, but not impossible

Greetings
 
Hi ivantr - if the bass shakers you are considering from Germany are Reckhorn units then I do recommend them - they are good value and robust. I have two attached to the underside of the seat. Because the frequencies involved are very low they are almost inaudible and care has to be taken not to overdrive them - like I did. They got very hot! - but were undamaged.
Richard
 
Maybe you could use a speach recognition program, or Dragon, and when you push a button, or move a handle, you would speak the Trainz KB commands: LHBAFQW WWWWWWW XXXXXXXXSAHLB
 
I didn`t understand. Can you explane more? Sounds interesting! But really I want to know how to do it easy, but cool. I am glad for all answers! Please help, i wan`t to create something like this for project week at school.
 
I am doing much the same, and have about 550 lines of code strung out on a Arduino Leonardo. The Leonardo will do keyboard inputs, however I am still working a way to have it get info from Trainz. I have a feeling somewhere, trainz is outputting info to the effect that it got the keyboard command, but I still have to find that, and code the arduino to go get that. The current config I have isn't hard, but it's not that idiot proof. I can't really include photos or diagrams atm though.
 
Perhaps you should seriously look at the drivers for the Rail Driver as these drivers are doing just what you are looking for - taking the A/D information from the RD and interfacing with Trainz. Maybe your code could be modified to work with the RD drivers.

John
 
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