Supplies:

For this project, you will require:

• An Arduino microcontroller compatible with Adafruit Motor Shield V2(UNO, Leonardo, etc)
• An Adafruit Motor Shield V2
• A PS/2 touchpad
• 4 wires with male Dupont connectors on one side(To connect the touchpad to the Arduino board)
• 2 wires each for connecting track power and turnouts(3 max) to the motor shield
• A 12-volt DC power supply with a current capacity of at least 1A.

Step 1: Get the Ps2 Library

Download the folder of the ps2 library from here. Move the downloaded folder to the desktop as it will be easier to find. Open the Arduino IDE and click Sketch>Include Library>Add .ZIP Library... and then select the ps2 folder from the desktop. The library will be included and you now be able to use the ps2 library.

Step 2: Figure Out the Connections of the Touchpad

If you have a Synaptics touchpad like the above one, the pad 'T22' is +5V, 'T10' is 'Clock', 'T11' is 'Data' and 'T23' is 'GND'. You can also solder the 'GND' wire to a large exposed copper as shown above.

Click on the above image to know more. If you have a different touchpad, try searching for its part number on the internet with 'pinouts' or you can ask the r/Arduino community on Reddit if you get stuck.

Step 3: Test the Touchpad

Make sure the correct connections are made to the touchpad. To test the touchpad, upload the ps2 mouse code on the Arduino microcontroller from Examples>ps2. Connect 'Clock' wire to D6, 'Data' wire to D5, GND to GND, and +5V or VCC to +5V pin of the Arduino board respectively. Reconnect the Arduino board to the computer and open the serial monitor. If you see the numbers changing as you move your finger across the touchpad, the touchpad is working properly and you can proceed.

Step 4: Program the Arduino Microcontroller

You can get the code from here.

It is recommended to go through the code before uploading it to the Arduino microcontroller to understand what all is going on.

Step 5: Set Up the Layout

Set up a layout to test the track power and all three turnout controls. Make sure all track joints are made properly and the tracks are clean. Cleaning the tracks and locomotives' wheels periodically is recommended to prevent the locomotives from stalling.

Step 6: Install the Motor Shield on the Arduino Board

Carefully align the pins of the motor shield with the female headers of the Arduino board and push the shield on top of the Arduino board. Make sure the shield fits securely on the Arduino board and no pin gets bent.

Step 7: Connect Track Power and Turnouts to the Motor Shield

Make the following connections:

• Connect the track power to the output connector of the shield labeled 'M1'.
• Connect the turnouts to the rest three output connectors 'M2', 'M3', and 'M4'.

Make sure all the wiring connections are done correctly and are not loose.

Step 8: Connect the Touchpad to the Setup

Connect the touchpad to the Arduino board by making the following connections between the touchpad and the Arduino board:

• +5-volt or 'VCC' to +5-volt of the Arduino board
• 'GND' to 'GND' of the Arduino board
• 'Clock' to 'D6' of the Arduino board
• 'Data' to 'D5' of the Arduino board

Step 9: Place the Locomotive(s) on the Track

Place a locomotive to be tested. You can also place multiple locomotives as per your wish.

The use of a rerailing tool is recommended. Make sure the locomotives are properly placed on the tracks to prevent derailments.

Step 10: Connect the Setup to Power and Turn It On

Connect the 12-volt power supply to the setup and turn it on.

Step 11: Test the Controls

Test all the controls. Refer to the above video to understand the controls.

I hope you enjoyed making this project. Please consider voting for this. Thank you.