OTAPS - Open Train Accident Prevention System

The Open Train Accident Prevention System (OTAPS) operates as a distributed communication and monitoring network designed to enhance railway safety. At the core of the system are STM32 Blue Pill microcontrollers paired with Arduino Uno R4 WiFi boards, which process sensor data and manage local logic. Track-side monitoring relies on 8mm NPN inductive proximity sensors to detect passing train axles, calculating real-time axle counts to verify track clearance. These track units use M177 NRF24L01 2.4GHz wireless transceiver modules to transmit signal states and safety warnings over radio frequency to neighboring stations and approaching locomotives. Local user interfaces incorporate 0.96-inch SSD1306 I2C OLED display modules to visually render signal statuses, axle counts, and system alerts directly for operators. AMS1117-3.3V voltage regulator ICs, alongside supporting capacitors, resistors, terminal blocks, and DC barrel jacks, step down and stabilize power inputs to ensure reliable operation of the low-voltage logic components and wireless radios. System administrators can remotely monitor metrics and manage states via the Blynk Platform for Web UI, while local overrides and inputs are handled through tactile switches and routed cleanly via pin headers. Through this coordinated interplay of proximity sensing, local micro-processing, 2.4GHz RF mesh communication, and cloud-connected dashboards, OTAPS establishes a continuous feedback loop between track segments, station masters, and train operators.