Components for wireless controlled toy train?

[Sand2silicon]

Subj:

I want to build a wireless controller, and a motorized toy train to run on wooden BRIO tracks to be remote controlled. The goal is a variation of this:
https://www.amazon.com/Accesories-Operated-Locomotive-Vehicles-Powerful/dp/B09WN4ZKKZ

Key Features:
Transmitter:
- 3 Throttle levers
- Independent / simultaneous control of up to 3 trains
- Forwards / Backwards and basic variable speed control for each train or (2-speed fast/slow).
- 2-4 buttons /switches for controlling future track switches or accessories.

Receiver / Toy Train:
- Wireless Receiver - receive signals for forwards/backwards and variable speed.
- if 2-speed fast/slow significantly simplifies things that's ok.
- Bonus: If the train could have 3 push buttons on top: Forwards / Stop / Backwards
- This would be in addition to the wireless control and offer a simplified on-board interface for the toddlers.

The goal is to make this as inexpensively and compact as possible. I'm not tied to any technology yet but the components I have in mind are below. I've messed with an Arduino but never done a project like this and am not sure what exact parts I need. Will some combination of these parts work, or is there a better alternative? How can I power the small train and it's components, and manage voltage?

Please help finalizing a design and component selection.

- Transmitter:
Raspberry Pi Pico W (to act as controller and transmitter)
- (or some Arduino?)

- Powered how, directly from 3xAAA ?

- Train / Receiver:
MOTOR:
- Diann 4pcs TT Motor DC 3-6V Gearbox Motor 200RPM Ratio 1:48
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BR7S2TRY/?th=1

RECEIVER PWM CONTROLLER
- ESP8266 ESP-12F - WiFi Serial Module Microcontroller 802.11N Module Wireless Transceiver
https://www.amazon.com/ACEIRMC-Microcontroller-Transceiver-Development-MicroPython/dp/B08Q3RC8T6/
or:
- ESP8266 NodeMCU CP2102 ESP-12E Development Board
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081CSJV2V/

MOTOR DRIVER:
- DRV8833 Dual Motor Driver
https://www.amazon.com/HiLetgo-Stepper-Controller-Tb6612fng-Replace/dp/B00UYIFYCW/
https://www.amazon.com/WWZMDiB-DRV8833-Driver-Controller-Bridge/dp/B0DB8CX8LK
or:
- Mini L298N
https://www.amazon.com/WWZMDiB-Channel-Bridge-Electric-Projects/dp/B0BD53Q7TT/

POWER MGT
AMS1117-3.3 DC-DC Step-Down Power Module
https://www.amazon.com/HiLetgo-AMS1117-3-3-Step-Down-Module-AMS1117-3-3V/dp/B01HXU1NQY/

 

[danadak]

The ESP8266 (or ESP32) can act as either transmitter or receiver.

The approach would be to use sockets for the data exchange.

You code in Arduino C/C++ or use NodeRed or Tuniott or other block
languages that have that capability to create cleint/servers.

How to use ESP8266/ESP32 as a TCP server and client with sockets

Learn how to configure ESP8266 or ESP32 as a TCP server or client using MicroPython's sockets.

www.engineersgarage.com

Regards, Dana.