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Model Railway Computer Control Centre Brunel University BEng Computer Systems Engineering Stephen Parascandolo Student ID: 9900239/1 Supervisor: Dr Ian Dear Tutor: Mr Peter VanSanten Model Railway Computer Control Centre Final Year Project Report May 2003 Volume 1 – Main Report, References and Appendixes A – F Contents Model Railway Computer Control Centre By Stephen Parascandolo VOLUME 1 Contents ..........................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................7 Model Railway Computer Control Centre ...................................................7 1.1 About this Report.............................................................................8 1.2 Aims and Objectives .......................................................................9 [1] Provide Realistic Signalling on the Model Railway...................9 [2] Provide a User Interface similar to Real VDU Control Centre .9 [3] Be Functional and Practical .....................................................10 [4] Be User Configurable...............................................................10 [5] Be as simple as possible to configure .....................................11 [6] Develop within certain limitations.............................................11 1.3 Summary .......................................................................................11 Background...................................................................................................12 Modern UK Signalling Practice..................................................................12 2.1 Why Have Signalling?...................................................................12 2.2 Early Signalling..............................................................................13 Block Sections ...............................................................................13 Junctions and Conflicts..................................................................13 Track Circuits .................................................................................14 2.3 Modern Signalling .........................................................................15 1 Centralised Control........................................................................15 Track Circuit Block.........................................................................15 Signals............................................................................................16 Route Setting .................................................................................17 In Depth features ...........................................................................17 2.4 Computer Based Signalling..........................................................19 VDU based signalling control........................................................19 Electronic interlocking....................................................................20 Symbols..........................................................................................20 Mouse Actions ...............................................................................20 2.5 Model Railway Features ...............................................................21 Junction Indicators.........................................................................21 ATP Relays ....................................................................................21 Miscellaneous ................................................................................21 2.6 Summary .......................................................................................21 Hardware System .........................................................................................22 3.1 Remote Panel Control System............................................................22 3.2 Horton Layout.......................................................................................23 Design ............................................................................................................24 4.1 Developing Requirements ...................................................................24 4.1.1 Additional Functionality..............................................................24 4.2 Assessment of Options........................................................................25 4.2.1 Software Tools ...........................................................................25 Key Advantages of Visual Basic .NET .........................................26 4.2.2 Programming Philosophy ..........................................................26 4.3 System Fundamentals.........................................................................27 4.3.1 Multi Threaded Solution.............................................................27 2 4.3.2 Modes of Operation ...................................................................28 4.3.3 User Interface.............................................................................28 The Signalling Display...................................................................29 Menu Bar........................................................................................30 Signalling Data...............................................................................30 Summary........................................................................................30 4.4 Detailed Design....................................................................................31 4.4.1 Device Objects ...........................................................................31 4.4.2 Layout Data Class......................................................................33 4.4.3 Design Mode ..............................................................................34 User Interface.................................................................................34 4.4.4 Data Validation...........................................................................35 4.4.5 Test and Operate Modes...........................................................35 4.4.6 Hardware Class..........................................................................37 4.5 In Depth Extracts..................................................................................37 4.5.1 Points..........................................................................................38 4.5.2 Routes ........................................................................................40 Route Set .......................................................................................41 Route Cancel .................................................................................42 4.6 Summary ..............................................................................................43 Implementation .............................................................................................44 Testing ...........................................................................................................45 6.1 Strategy ................................................................................................45 6.1.1 Testing Plan................................................................................45 [A] Module Testing.........................................................................45 [B] Development Order..................................................................46 [C] User Interface Correspondence Testing.................................47 3 [D] Data Validation.........................................................................47 [E] Random Testing.......................................................................48 [F] Test Mode.................................................................................48 [G] Demonstration Track ...............................................................49 6.1.2 Limitations...................................................................................50 6.1.3 Summary ....................................................................................50 6.2 Functional Testing................................................................................51 6.2.1 Module Testing...........................................................................51 6.2.2 Development Order ...................................................................51 6.2.3 User Interface Correspondence Testing...................................52 6.2.4 Data Validation and Random Testing.......................................53 6.2.5 Test Mode...................................................................................53 6.2.6 Demonstration Track .................................................................54 6.3 Performance Tests...............................................................................54 6.3.1 Reaction and Response Times.................................................55 6.3.2 System Resources.....................................................................55 6.3.3 Hardware Requirements ...........................................................56 6.4 Summary ..............................................................................................56 Conclusions ..................................................................................................57 7.1 Achievements.......................................................................................57 7.2 Critical Review......................................................................................58
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