Introduction: Train Seat System

By https://twitter.com/mcrkersten
About: Student at the University of the Arts Utrecht

Today we made a system that can be implemented in train seats. We had to find an annoyance and make a solution for it.

We decided that we would make a system that tells you if a seat is availible in the train cart you are currently in. Nothing is more anoying than a full train. So why not tell beforehand if a seat is available or not?

Step 1: The Materials

  • 1x Arduino
  • 1x Breadboard
  • 1x Pressure sensor
  • 1x LED-Matrix+breakout
  • 2x RGB Led
  • 4x 220 Ohm resistor
  • Jumpwires
  • Wood

Step 2: Wiring the Hardware

Meeting the LED matrix:
The matrix display is going to be used to indicate how many free seats there are in a train cart. The LED matrix is capible of producing all kinds ofm shapes and figures. The Matrix is powered by a MAX7217 chip to easily controll it. We also controll the matrix with a library, called "LedControlMS.h". We need to import this library. Download here.
Import this library and you are good to go with the matrix display.


The display has 5 pins.
VCC (5volt)
GND (ground)
DIN (Data In) => DigitalPin 12
CLK (clock) => DigitalPin 11
CS (Chip select) => DigitalPin 10

Meeting the RGB leds:
The LEDs are going to be used to indicate if a chair is taken or not. The RGB leds have 4 pins. Red, green, blue and ground pin. We are only going to use the red and green light of the RGB. So we are only connecting those 2, and ground ofcource.

For LED 1:
Red=> DigitalPin 2
Green => DigitalPin 3

For LED 2:
Red=> DigitalPin 4
Green => DigitalPin 5

Meeting the Pressure sensor:
The pressure sensor is going to be used to detect if someone is sitting on the chair.
We need to be carefull to not blow-up our arduino! So make sure that you connect a resistor on the right place. See wire sceme for details.


Step 3: The Code

Step 3.1: LedControlMS.h Library
3.1.1: Download the LedcontrollMS.h library
3.1.2: Go to "Sketch > Inlcude library > Add .ZIP Library" select the LedcontrollMS.h zip to import it.

Step 3..2: Code check
3.2.1: Make sure that every pin is wired correctly. The wire of the sensor should be connected to A0.
3.2.2: Correct any faulty connections. You can correct it by altering the code or hardware.

Attachments

Step 4: The Box

You can make the box out of any material you want. You can even go full size!
We sticked to a small model. Our model only has one pressure sensor as well. But it can communicate our concept idea.