ProtoThrottle-like Apps for Smart Phone?

[ednadolski]

Would anyone be aware of any Protothrottle-like UI apps for use with a smartphone?  Basically I am thinking of something like a WiThrottle that works with JMRI, but with an on-screen interface that has similar controls to a Protothrottle:  ie, the 9-position throttle, reverser, brake, horn 'lever', etc.   The stuff on the JMRI throttle page (https://www.jmri.org/help/en/package/jmri/jmrit/withrottle/UserInterface.shtml) looks more intended to emulate a generic sort of DCC hand controller, rather than an actual diesel cab control stand.   But I can't really think of a reason why such a UI could not be written.

I thought that the actual Protothrottle used open-source code (where does that live... github?), which perhaps could be used in some form to write a smartphone app.  Or perhaps there is already some branch of the JMRI code that has been or could be modified to support this?

Ed

[turbowhiz]

Its a good idea! I'm not aware of any JMRI-Wifi throttle apps that exist that work like the ProtoThrottle does.

The whole ProtoThrottle deal IS open source, both hardware and software. You can find it on Github here:

https://github.com/IowaScaledEngineering/mrbw-cst

Now exactly how helpful that will be to with respect to making a smartphone equivalent I'm not entirely certain. But it's there... (I'd start at the Xbee-Wifi bridge, but that said, it might be better just to start from scratch anyhow...)

Now the experience obviously won't be quite the same... But the barrier to entry cost wise would make up for it!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Hmm.
Hmmm.

Like I need another project.

[basementcalling]

Hmm.
Hmmm.

Like I need another project.

Gotta be easier than making trees.

[greenwizard88]

I made a Windows WiThrottle client, and it does work on Windows Phone. I already support different UIs in the app, there's no reason why I couldn't add a "Proto Throttle" looking UI. The problem, of course, is that even Microsoft doesn't support Windows Phone anymore so you'd be stuck tethered to a desktop, or at best a Surface Go which is still an 11" tablet.

Does the Proto Throttle do on board processing? Or does it just transmit speed and function info, and rely on the e.g. momentum settings of the DCC decoder?

Edit: Here's a quick and dirty look at what I've done. It's held together with hopes and dreams and a liberal amount of duct tape, but it kind of gives you an idea where I'm headed. The bell being F1, the bullhorn being F2, and both lights toggling F0... Is there any interest in continuing this project?