Remote controlled tank engine

MarvellousSideRods

Is three naybody that knows how to make remote co trolled plarail tank engine? It can be event an Arduino(od someone know Arduino well let me know)

With functions like light on/off,
Speed: forward max fast, forward fast, forward slow, stop, backward slow, backward fast, backward Max fast.

And it need to be as small as it can be because i maliny small lico and im afraid it willa bot fit. Ya all know battery gearbox and other...

Thanks to everyone

MarvellousSideRods 🙂

leylandvictory2

mr. motorman is probably what you are looking for except for turning lights on and off.

Super

Leylands idea is probably the quickest and easiest. There are many videos on YouTube showing complete modifications of Plarails to RC.

MarvellousSideRods

I cant find any videos. Can you send me some links please?

Super

You may be more successful finding the videos by translating your searches into Japanese.

MarvellousSideRods

still nothing. Can you send me a playlist or something? Please...

chrisjo

For Mr. Motorman, search "プラレールミスターモーターマン"

for example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZZ87LCJjNg

For Arduino projects, search "プラレール arduino"

for example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6xy1y1ZxB0

leylandvictory2

our fellow memeber ucwepen did a video on Mr motorman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF2qzkDZ4Bs

Super

I wouldn't have a play list for something like that. These are just videos I remember seeing while looking around YouTube over the years. A lot of the them created by some very talented electrical whizzes.

Plarail Man UK

Ah, it's interesting you'd mention this 🙂

The latest version of the Mabeee battery that can be used to control Plarail and other battery operated devices can actually be operated and programmed via Scratch, which I believe can be used on Arduino?

In any case, I have actually been working on [theoretical] plans as to how I could automate my Plarail layout using a combination of sensors, Mabeee battery controllers, and of course, Scratch programming, with the ultimate aim to be the creation of a form of ATO train control system wherein Scratch would drive the trains, with the sensors regulating distance between trains, and stopping positions.

Equally, I am also considering using Scratch, the Mabeee system, and a USB controller kit to potentially enable me to create and build a train driving controller based on the layout of a train driving desk, with sound buttons, power handles, etc., allowing for a fully immersive Plarail driving experience.

If and when I can prove these concepts [presently, I have one Mabeee battery underway from Japan with a consignment of other Plarail goodies], then I'll be sure to post my findings; Indeed, should I be able to create a successful Plarail ATO system for the Mabeee/Scratch, or a USB controller for PC-based driving control, I'll share the progams and schematics on here so you guys can potentially build your own controller, or easily program your own layout 🙂

Incidentally, here's a link to the Mabeee batteries that I bought - These apparently should be the latest model, compatible with 'MabeeeDesktopEX'; effectively a piece of software that allows one to connect to Mabeee batteries via PC. Previous models could not do this, but could connect via a Japan-only mobile app. These newer models are still compatible with the app as well, but the PC software is not region-locked, and as long as you can install 'DesktopEX', then you should be able to sync it to Scratch and go from there.

https://www.jauce.com/rakuten/item/kazamidori:10014457/

I will try and find the link to the pages that explain how it can be connected and incorporated into Scratch, and post a translation to here [the pages are mostly in Japanese] 🙂

chrisjo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gs6oVPBK_D4&t=12s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3RYwxITmcg

https://mabeee.mobi/en/what/

Super

I wonder if cost anything for the phone app and whether its only in Japanese because it does seem like something that would be worth a try if you can understand it.

chrisjo

The app is free, e.g. from Google Play Store. Although it is only in Japanese, it looks pretty intuitive, though it does very little until a Mabeee battery is detected.

We first mentioned it here back in 2016.
https://blueplastictracks.com/showthread.php?tid=1917&pid=21273#pid21273
then again in 2020.
https://blueplastictracks.com/showthread.php?tid=3696&pid=50600#pid50600

However, MaBeee has moved on. Plarail Man UK is talking about its use in conjunction with the visual programming tool Scratch. I'm looking forward to hearing more.
https://novars-jp.translate.goog/scratch?_x_tr_sl=ja&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Electronic-Plarail-Scratch-MaBeee-Japanese-ebook/dp/B08P1W8MVR

https://manaita.tech/mabeee-plarail/

MarvellousSideRods

on the mabeee tutorails i see there is no backward movement

chrisjo

True, but given that it's pretty much impossible to drive a Plarail train of more than about two cars backwards along anything except a loop with no switches in it, without it de-railing, that's maybe not such a big deal?

Plarail Man UK

Well, here's an update.

I've opened my Mabeee, and so far, the results have been pretty mixed.

So the good news is, it connects to my phone, and I downloaded an APK for the Mabeee controller app, that fortunately is all in English, so no translations required 😃 Better still, with my new Oppo phone, it works flawlessly, no trouble at all!

Right, I think I'm finally at the bottom of all this .

So, here's the deal - The MB-3003WB appears to be a newer version [odd given it's got a lower model number, but stick with me here]. The one I have been sent, and I assume this is why it was cheaper, is the older MB-3005-WB1. Compatibility wise, the 3005 ONLY works with PCs running Windows 10 Creators Update or later - It does not specify compatibility with Windows 11, which is what my PC runs.

However, NOVARS [the makers of the Mabeee] have clearly intended the 3003 to be an update that uses somewhat less proprietary connection software, and has compatibility with Scratch 3.0 as opposed to the now obsolete 1.4, as the 3003 uses ScratchLink [same as LEGO Mindstorms et al.] to connect with Scratch rather than Mabeee Desktop EX - So, while it is possible for a Win11 PC to install and run Desktop EX and detect a 3005 Mabeee, it cannot communicate with it. I can assume this is something to do with the jump from Win10 to Win11 making communication impossible, but without obtaining a 3003 and testing, I cannot be certain.

So, the bottom line appears to be that if we want PC connectivity for Mabeee, to use the 3003 - The 3003 is also Win10 compatible, so is evidently the better model as it has a wider range of compatibility. Both versions are Mac compatible also but check out those specs before you buy - I use Windows exclusively and can't say I have enough knowledge of Mac to give advice there.

So, in conclusion, I reccomend the 3005 if you run Win10 and don't plan to upgrade to Win11, or want a cheaper Mabeee that ONLY works with Android otherwise. If you want the full Mabeee experience, buy the 3003, which is what I will be doing later this month in my next Japanese order [I will only buy one for now, again just in case there are compatibility issues].

I created a document with links to BOTH models of Mabeee, the APKs for the Android apps, and instructions for using the Mabeee based on my own experiences [The manual is NOT avaliable in English unless you use Google Translate's 'scan' function], and so as far as I know my writeup is the closest thing to a clear English manual with no translation errors, although I may have missed some details so I won't claim it's perfect 😉

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XOGRnPfHfI4GjlPljyCu7CW4m9KQ1wa8/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=104854205643913105425&rtpof=true&sd=true

Have fun!

MuddyPoppins

Holy Crap!!….what is all this business?
I tried the Jauce link, but it goes nowhere.
Honestly this is just way too long to take seriously, as it makes my brain spin around like it’s about to explode, and is WAY too many words to possibly even attempt to read. Lol
Is this spam disguised as a post?

Plarail Man UK

@Muddy Poppins

Nah, this was my best attempt to actually explain the functionality and bizzare quirks of the MaBeee remote battery system completely, as there really isn't a lot of English information about it ðŸ˜…

To be honest, I may reformat the post, and separate some of the information into a Word Document attachment for people to download and read at their leisure if they are interested or need to - I just figured it might be helpful info.

There isn't even an English translation of the manual, which is why I basically included a much clearer English explanation of the functions in the post, because Google Translate basically had a seizure when I tried to translate the manual, and even a friend of mine who knows more Japanese than I do couldn't totally understand it either ðŸ˜›

As it happens, there is one major issue I have noticed that might kneecap the potential uses for the MaBeee - Unlike the Mr Motorman, it doesn't offer the option to run trains in reverse, presumably because the MaBeee is built for a wide variety of devices as opposed to specifically Plarail.

However, if that's not a major problem (I mean, in the main most layouts are one-way) then the MaBeee would be ideal, although it is a shame as I had pondered the possibility of using a MaBeee to create an automatic shuttle branch line on my layout, which would require reversing (no room for a loop).

Super

Thanks P-Man

Plarail Man UK

Edit completed [later than I would have liked because of work taking away all my energy >_<] and it does look a lot neater 😉