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Cameras

Cameras enable AI-powered detection of vehicles on your layout using Locovision. You can use them as triggers, conditions, or feedback points in your scripts — for example, starting a platform sequence when a train is detected at a station camera.

Model Train Script supports two camera types.

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Local

Uses the camera of the device you are working on. Great for testing your scripts, but less practical for a permanent layout since you need a fixed camera position for predictable detection.

Enable this in the profile configuration.

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Web URL

Polls a URL to retrieve images and processes them locally for vehicle detection. Two URL types are supported:

  • JPEG — Fetches a single image at a configurable interval.

  • MJPEG — Streams continuous frames.

This works well with affordable hardware like an ESP32-CAM module. Upload the "CameraWebServer" sketch via the Arduino IDE, find the IP address in the Serial Monitor, and enter http://<ip-address>/capture as the URL in Model Train Script.

Be aware that this mode places a heavier load on your main device since all processing is done there.

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Detection

Locovision uses a YOLOv8 AI model to detect vehicles in the camera feed. For each camera you define a detection point — a specific area in the camera frame to monitor. You can position this point visually by dragging it on the live camera preview.

When a vehicle is detected at the detection point, it stays active for a configurable duration (default 2 seconds) before expiring. This prevents flickering in automation conditions.

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Layout integration

Cameras can be placed on your layout as camera items. Assign a camera and detection point to the item, and it becomes a visual feedback point on your track plan. This is especially useful when one camera monitors multiple track areas — each area gets its own layout item with its own detection point.

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Using cameras in scripts

Cameras integrate with the automation engine in two ways:

  • Execution event — Trigger a script when a vehicle is detected. The detected vehicle can automatically become the selected vehicle for subsequent actions in the script.

  • Condition — Pause script execution until a vehicle is (or is not) detected at a specific detection point. Useful for waiting until a train arrives before continuing a sequence.

Both support referencing a camera directly or via a layout item.

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