This is some interesting Software

[Super]

Thia is some interesting Computer Software controlling these trains. I assume its controlled by Bluetooth as its logo is on the screen but how does it work? What do you think?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJnb1bh1wdg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_TEVJJe2OU

Thia is some interesting Computer Software controlling these trains. I assume its controlled by Bluetooth as its logo is on the screen but how does it work? What do you think?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJnb1bh1wdg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_TEVJJe2OU

The remotes to control trains like this use infra red to communicate don't they? You can get Bluetooth or wireless relays that send the infra red signal (usual use is for mobile phone to TV when mobile does not have IR blaster). Could be using this sort of Bluetooth setup or simply could have programmable ir transmitter in laptop and Bluetooth not used.

[Super]

I am not that tech savvy enough to even form much of a guess but it looks like there are no remotes here and the young man is controlling the trains right from his Laptop. Wonder if this is some type of robotic's class project.

If you look closely at the video the trains in the second one actually have a 'light/LED' in the middle car, I suspect some special module with a speed controller and BlueTooth interface has been fitted - or replaced the car chassis.

The clues to this is that you will see the trains seem to have 'proportional' speed control, speeding up, slowing down and reversing without any physical interaction. He is also controlling two concurrently at one point and if you look at the software screen there is a list of three different loco's which are selectable (complete with names). If this was all controlled by IR it would have to be very sophisticated as normally you are very limited to the number of devices that can be used concurrently due to frequency issues etc..

The other thing that implies bluetooth is in the first video the image changes from the computer graphics to what looks like streamed video from a loco mounted camera - this would have to be bluetooth as that amount of data could never be shifted via IR for real time video display...

Whatever it is I would love to know if it is an off the shelf product that you can retrofit to PlaRails

Just seen this, seems similar if maybe anearlier version...

Tomy remote control

The one the video is a custom one.

-plarnold