Hi,
I'm working on a project in OO gauge to build an active tilting train. In order to make it realistic I would like to build some form of on-board speed detector that will send information back to the tilt system to activate it when the locomotive reaches a designated speed. I thought about mounting two ir sensors lengthways in the bottom of the loco that pick up the ir signal emission from an ir LED placed in the track a short distance before the bend. The first detector would pick up the ir emission followed by the second further down the loco, the speed being determined by the difference in time between the two detections. The problem is I don't know where to begin or what sort of circuit sophistication would be required. I would like all the electronics to be on board the loco. Any advice would be appreciated.
I'm working on a project in OO gauge to build an active tilting train. In order to make it realistic I would like to build some form of on-board speed detector that will send information back to the tilt system to activate it when the locomotive reaches a designated speed. I thought about mounting two ir sensors lengthways in the bottom of the loco that pick up the ir signal emission from an ir LED placed in the track a short distance before the bend. The first detector would pick up the ir emission followed by the second further down the loco, the speed being determined by the difference in time between the two detections. The problem is I don't know where to begin or what sort of circuit sophistication would be required. I would like all the electronics to be on board the loco. Any advice would be appreciated.