Detect Train and Close Window with Arduino and Webcam

[Pliskin42]

Why don't you find a way to read the train schedule via the web and program the PC to automatically shut the windows at certain times before the train jets past? surely that will be cheaper than getting new hardware like a laser.

[Popeyethebikerman]

"It's whisper-quiet!" "WHAT??" "IT'S WHISPER-QUIET!!"

[mayhn]

Really great. In my opinion you should use high power laser beam to alert the train passing even a few hundred meters earlier.

[hingedelephant]

Nice. A little slow, but a nice build.

[Houdinisworld]

Neat ideal! Most windows are verticle but this is great for sliding windows. My advice for improvement is to put a simple pressure switch on the track and add a wireless kit to your Arduino. You could also put an audio sensor which would kick in way before the webcam sees the train... I have no doubts you can tweak the coding to respond only to the repetitive sound of a train. Really cool though!

[albertopasca]

genius!!

[crashtokio]

Thank you for sharing this! I am upset about people posting what's wrong without building a better solution, documenting it and or posting a video response showing how to impove your very good idea. Your video is helpful. 

[Auhydride]

not sure if it would be legal but, you can wire the railroads to give you heads up long time before the train approaches.

[MrKaman25]

When you hear the train coming, go and close the two windows. It would take less time and there would be no need for a special printer that makes plastic du-hickies and no need to put holes in your landlord's walls. If you need something to do, invent a robot to close the windows and it could also get beer. Then I'd buy one! Thanks for the video and I'm sorry to the person who is losing his company.

[seere001]

一个自动开关窗户的装置？不是已经有很多类似装置了么？

[mhamsburg]

Hi People. I know this comment is not related to the video, but our company is going under (incl all my saving) and this is my desperate last resort to promote our iphone app. it's called "FS Viewer" and "Analyst Rating Tracker". u'd be saving two lives if u downloaded either one of these apps..thanks a lot.

[ColoradoState76]

"A" for creativity! The actual usefulness...I dunno. This guy seems to have some good technological skillz as well as creativity. Sounds employable. What the fuck is he doing living in some small ass apartment on the wrong side of the train tracks? We have a ton of politicians who don't know squat and they make millions.

[peetre]

very funny sw204me, that was my thought also. I expected a sound sensor that would automate this. If i had to push the button, by then i am wide awake. good idea though!

[00skin00]

Very cool. Have you thought about tying this into a temperature monitor system so that if it is hot inside the windows automatically open based on the time of day and temperature outside? I have been thinking about a project like this for some time.

[ddguydd1]

neat project... you're lucky your trains are so slow... kidding

[deadking13]

Why not a Mic instead of the web camera?

[redsynapse]

TLDW; "After the train has already been roaring by my window for 20 seconds, my slow ass actuator kicks in an, at speeds rivaling that of the fastest glacier, and then 20 seconds after that the windows actually close." Suggestion: use software like vitamindinc , where you can set up a rule (e.g. if the train moves past a boundary 200 meters away from your house) the windows close. 

[ivanblogs]

What h-bridge are you using?

[MrChannnnnnnnnnnnnnn]

Things you can improve on:

1. Have a recognition software hooked with a webcam, to identify a train from FAR, so you would have the time to close it. (totally open source and simple google it.)

2. Increase the speed of your actuator.

[SquirrelFromGradLife]

It's quite clever, but...yeah you knew there had to be a but in there somewhere...

If noise is the problem, then why not hook some sort of microphone up and make an algorithm that monitors the sound level and detects a train coming before it's actually parked in your bedroom.

Also the linear actuators are fancy and they look somewhat powerful, but the force required to close a window is quite small and the speed at which they close is paramount, so hook them up to some sort of gearing system.

[nadtulevad]

i bet the rent i cheap.

[boblebob]

yeah surely you would want it to close quicker to block the noise quicker? seems like a lot of effort for it not to be that effective

[mrmts]

"...you don't even notice the train coming by." LOL minus the earthquake shaking!

Very nice work though. I imagine the webcam tacking was fairly complicated or what happens when some kids walk down the tracks?

I would imagine a frequency counter (or amplitude from a strain guage) could track the train's vibration and have the windows closed (slow actuators) long before the train arrived. It would be easier to set up compared to the webcam and would be less clunky.

[digitalpwnage]

The actuation thingy sounds like a train its self. :P

[chuvak1]

Very nice. I am impressed with the attention to details and craftsmanship of the project. Now you just need to figure out a way to get the webcam up the track a ways so that the windows will already be closed by the time the train gets there.

[ComputerArtsdk]

Funny idea... would be easier just to move!!

You should instead look at the sensor for time schedules on when the train is there, then it could close BEFORE the train arrives... :-) good luck

[blkdrgn1132]

needs to be alot faster.. base it on sound instead of motion or change the motion viewing angle to detect much sooner. windows should close in 2-3 secs, then re-open 30-45 secs after loss of detection. other than that, great work and i love the idea

[zeroxiss]

boooooooooring.

[groov539]

Move?

[duckmanito]

that shit makes more noise than the train.

[KuroTaiga0]

Which open-source motion detection software? A Dockstar or $25 RasberryPi could do the webcam motion & only uses 1W of power (RasberryPi is not out for another month).

To those who say it has 'serious' issues:

That train is damn slow. Window closing speed may very well be more then good enough for him.

If his pc is on 24/7 anyway *cough*torrents* then webcam may be easier.

When looking for a solution to an annoyance sometimes you just want easy & good enough.

[Evolucion7]

Um, why not just leave the windows closed all the time? I mean, I respect the amount of work that went into this, but I can't help but feel that it  was all a waste when you could just not open the windows in the first place.

[AdvocatusDiabolii]

nice effort! but... as many pointed out, some serious design issues (slow, overkill with image processing, etc)

[Steelheadalleyangler]

Simply Brilliant! Gotta love the Makerbot!



[korolexa]

Postponed reaction, slow closing, unable to close manually. Solutions:

- use two microphones wrap in a cone = directional) and analyze nose level and time

- put a threaded rod along the window with a step motor (Z axis makerbot), for the grip use a half cut nut on a level. OR use a belt (~reprap. much faster than rod); to free the window move out the motor from the grip

- built an active nose cancellation system (like GM and Toyota are going to use in their cars) without closing the windows…

[TheKarmaComedian]

Sorry, but I'm underwhelmed.

30 seconds to push a window 18" is ....way...too...sloooow.

Also, you should've mounted the at the TOP of the window where they would be hidden out of sight behind a valance.

Finally, the engine is practically on your pillow before the window starts closing.

[fa11d0wng0b00m]

I need this to detect inconsiderate next balcony over neighbours when they're partying at 4am outside.

[SensibleMusician]

wow great! is there any kind of sensor like a seismograph - so the train would trip the sensor before it arrives?

[guiman79]

wrong

[silverstream314]

Nice, but it would be nice to have the system trigger while the train is farther away, so that the window is closed by the time the train actually gets there.

[Berroca87]

N es mas facil cerrar la ventana con la mano?

[L0stralian]

unimpressed



[kvalimad]

Nice! is my first impression.

But what was the decision behind behind using video instead of sound for the trigger?

A loudnes based system could be run from only an arduino. No need for a computer to be humming away in the middle of the night.

I can also imagine that the video motion detection would be difficult at night, when it is most needed. A loudnes based system couldn't care less.

A loudnes based system would also work for any kind of loud noise. Not only for the train.

[aseglkj]

Or he could've just cut off his beard and stuffed it in his ears.

[vicj0r]

I need the printed parts!!

[wowcolors]

Another thing you could do is mount a mic outside and when the noise gets above a specific dB close the windows. You could have a timeout so it has to be above the specified dB for a small interval like 5 sec to filter out any car doors closing, etc.

[emomotorgeek]

0:30 lotion and tissues. lo

[mrmts]

@emomotorgeek LOL busted

[jetpiston]

Does it reverse the process once the train is no longer in the field of view?

[dcyli]

I am guessing those linear actuators are around 100 - 200 dollars.

How much are they?

[sw204me]

By the time the window closes the train will have passed lol.

[B1r6m4n]

@sw204me not with freight trains... Hundreds of carts, can take 5+ minutes minimum!

[vitorb1979]

@sw204me I agree. The only thing that shoud've been better, it's the window closing speed...

[floush1337]

But GREAT PROJECT! Very well done. (Almost forgot that ;)).

[floush1337]

Wouldn't it be even better to trigger this by sound? And then speed up the closing process ;)