User:Giorgio italy/AutoDispatcher/Introduction

Introduction

This manual explains how to use the AutoDispatcher program, included in the distribution kit of the Java Model Railroad Inteface (JMRI), in order to automate a model train layout.

JMRI is a rather extensive Open Source package providing the model railroader with many tools to program the tiny decoders installed in the locomotives, operating trains and turnouts, drawing control panels, simulating railroad operations, etc. For additional information about JMRI and practical instructions about its installation and configuration, please refer to the web site of the project: http://jmri.sourceforge.net/

AutoDispatcher is a program written using the Jython scripting language and contains two main components:

The Dispatcher


 * that operates turnouts and signals in order to route trains in accordance to their schedule, avoiding collisions and, as far as possible, "gridlock" situations.

The Engineer
 * that starts, stops trains and changes their speed in accordance to signal aspects and applicable speed restrictions.

There is a clean separation between the two components and the user can choose to use both of them or only the Dispatcher part, while running trains manually or with other scripts. The choice can be made on a train by train basis and any combination of automated and manually controlled trains is thus possible.