WIO sensors

A sensor in TrainPanel represents a point or zone detection on the track. Currently, the only supported hardware is the WIO box: each sensor has an address made of a node (box number) and a pin (input number).

Create a sensor

In Edit mode, Sensors sidebar section, click +:

Add a sensor
Add a Sensor

Instructions appear in the sensor properties panel:

Sensor creation instructions
Sensor Creation Instructions
  1. Click once then twice on desired locations for the sensor ends. After the first click, the future sensor position is displayed.
Sensor location
Sensor location
  1. The sensor properties panel appears:
Sensor properties
Sensor Properties
  1. For WIO sensors:
  • WIO address: pick the node (box number) and the pin (input number).
  1. Attached block (optional): pick the block the sensor serves for locomotives detection.
  2. Inversion: tick if the sensor produces a logically inverted signal (active at rest, inactive when triggered).
  3. Click Create sensor to validate.

Understanding the start and end bounds

A real sensor is point-like — it triggers on passage. The two bounds (start and end) model:

  • a detection zone (e.g. over 30 mm) for a current-draw sensor,

Inversion

Some modules send an active-at-rest signal. Tick Inversion: TrainPanel will automatically invert the state before publishing it to the supervisor.

Edit a sensor

Its card lets you:

  • change the WIO address,
  • change the zone (start and end bounds),
  • change the attached block,
  • toggle inversion.

Delete a sensor

Delete button. The block that used it loses its detection source; remember to reassign another sensor if needed.

Verify a sensor works

In Manual + Real, run a train across it: its state is updated in real-time in the sidebar (an indicator changes color).

Sensor test
Sensor Test

In Simulation, you can force-trigger it manually with no train running — see Testing a sensor in simulation (coming soon).