Interactive Railway Controller
For the LEGO train enthusiast, there's nothing quite like putting on your engineer's cap, calling out the station master's instructions, then using the controls to send your locomotive on its way.
But, what if you didn't have to touch the controls?
What if you could play out your stories and direct the trains simply by telling them what to do? There are different ways this could be accomplished, from simple orders to start and stop an engine, to more complex setups that are limited only by your imagination. Audio responses from the railway system itself would add to the realism.
Basic voice commands: Switch the position of individual points and signals to guide your train. They could be identified by names or numbers to help facilitate this.
Intermediate voice commands: Tell a train what destination to head for or assign a route it should take, perhaps with the help of waypoints.
Advanced voice commands: The railway is able to interact with the user in way that supports full roleplaying. This would include features like setting virtual timetables and having the system react to a scenario you create.
I chose this idea for a couple of reasons. I wanted to come up with something feasible that could reasonably be produced in some form. Also, this particular use of voice technology enhances the LEGO experience without taking anything away from the builder. The miniature models shown in the images were designed just to help demonstrate how the idea would work for a regular LEGO railway system.
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