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Train and passenger safety has fast become the most
important issue in rail technology development today. According to
research from Global Industry Analysts, in 2015 the value of the
global railroad transport industry will reach $800 billion. As a
result, the cost of accidents and failure also increased. Each year,
human error causes a significant number of rail accidents. These
human issues related to communication errors, visibility and other
mistakes cause close to 50% of all rail accidents. The other 50% of
rail accidents are caused by faulty tracks or equipment. Because of
this, the deployment and utilization of embedded systems in the
railway sector has grown exponentially over the last decade thus,
dramatically increasing overall safety by significantly reducing the
number of human error-causing accidents and allowing for close
track and equipment monitoring to preempt wear and equipment
malfunction related incidents.
THE TOP 3 WAYS THAT
EMBEDDED TECHNOLOGIES
INCREASE RAIL SAFETY
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Content
How embedded technologies increase rail safety……...3
The segments of rail embedded technology……………..5
Vehicles………………………………………………………6
System Technology…………………………………….8
Conclusion ………………………………………………………………..10
The Top 3 Ways That Embedded Technologies Increase Rail Safety
Professional Software Associates, Inc.
3
Embedded Technologies
Increase Rail Safety
There is no current foreseen
decrease in rail traffic; in fact, the U.S.
DOT expects total U.S. freight
movements to increase 61% between
2010 and 2040 ¹. Similarly, throughout
the globe, an increasing number of
people are moving to more densely
populated areas, causing passenger rail
to see a significant increase in demand,
with no foreseen decline. Places such as
the UK expect a 198% peak hour rail
passenger demand by 2023 ². With such
increases in passenger and freight rail
demand, it becomes more and more
imperative to increase safety in rail
operations.
The United States has taken an
old-fashion attitude to operating its rail
systems. Most of the country’s signaling,
switching, and train operation has been
handled manually, causing numerous
unnecessary inefficiencies and
vulnerabilities. These open up ideal
opportunities for embedded
applications to be implemented, in order
to increase safety and efficiencies within
the system. Ever-increasing Rail speeds
and denser traffic on the tracks
themselves have caused safety and
efficiency to be the primary industry
concerns.
The U.S. DOT
expects total U.S.
freight movements
to increase 61%
between 2010 and
2040.
The Top 3 Ways That Embedded Technologies Increase Rail Safety
Professional Software Associates, Inc.
4
Safety
Last summer, a train derailment in
Spain caused by a speeding train
resulted in 80 deaths and dozens of
injuries. This and other accidents have
highlighted the importance of Positive
Train Control (PTC), which can help
prevent incidents like these. The PTC
wayside servers incorporate embedded
technology to communicate speed,
location, as well as automatically
stopping or slowing the train before an
accident occurs ³.
Though safety is largely
considered with passenger rail, it is a
fundamental concern of freight rail as
well. Because of this, the United States
Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008
was instated to require PTC technology
to be installed on most of the US
railroad network by 2015.
Embedded
Embedded systems are
microcontroller-based systems built into
technical equipment for a dedicated
purpose – also known as a single
purpose computer. Basically, an
embedded system is a combination of
hardware and software used to perform
a specific task either completely or
partially independent of human
interaction. The software used to create
the embedded system is the embedded
software - embedded software can be
used in anything from pacemakers to
airplanes for a great number of different
applications and can be controlled either
via human interface or machine-to-
machine (M2M) interfaces. While initially
embedded software was typically used
for the safety and business critical
applications such as security, process
controls and energy management
applications, we are continuously finding
new applications to incorporate
embedded systems into our daily lives.
Embedded systems are most
often utilized when the cost of
implementing a product designed in
software on a microprocessor and some
hardware, is cheaper, more reliable, or
better for some other reason than a
separate hardware design. It is possible
for one small and relatively cheap
microprocessor to replace many
hardware logic gates, timing circuits,
input buffers, output drivers, etc.
The Top 3 Ways That Embedded Technologies Increase Rail Safety
Professional Software Associates, Inc.
5
Embedded in Rail
The growing number of electronic
systems being incorporated into trains
and subway systems are finding a home
on the back end of the computing
scheme, typically controlling specialized
functions that reside out of passengers’
view. The potential uses for embedded
systems in rail applications cover a
broad spectrum of functions, from
precise initial rail installation geometry,
to train protection and signaling
systems, to station management as well
as seen, and unseen, passenger
conveniences.
Embedded systems have allowed
for increased safety integrity over
manual applications through reduced
human interaction and error. To further
increase the safety integrity level (SIL),
the EN50155 standard for electronic
railroad applications places heavy
demands for the application success,
and assumes that electronic systems on
trains will need to operate 24 hours a
day for 30 years without failure. These
demands require that the train control
systems must be designed to withstand
the toughest environmental conditions:
temperature ranges -40°F to +167°F,
humidity, vibrations and power
fluctuations. Both critical (braking and
train control) and non-critical (heating,
infotainment, lighting) applications
should maintain the highest SIL to
maintain the safety of the passengers
and cargo.
For the sake of this paper, we will
divide rail into two segments of rail
embedded technology – Vehicles and
System Technologies – which will be
discussed below.
Modern trains are
becoming more and
more technologically
advanced and
computerized each and
every day. Because of
this, the standards of
safety, automation and
interoperability are
consistently improving
throughout the
industry.
The Top 3 Ways That Embedded Technologies Increase Rail Safety
Professional Software Associates, Inc.
6
Vehicles
While safety and operational
functions are at the forefront, embedded
systems also can control convenience
functions such as heating, air
conditioning and infotainment.
The vehicle of the train refers to
the actual car which is transporting the
passengers and/or freight.
With PTC, equipment onboard
the train integrates command, control,
communications and information
systems intended to control train
movements securely and safely. The
train receives signal information
regarding where it is allowed to safely
travel, then acts through preventing
movement to any location not deemed
as safe, therefore, reducing the
likelihood of speeding, possible
collisions between trains, roadway
worker casualties and equipment
damage. The PTC system uses GPS to
determine the location of trains and
transmits radio frequency data between
the train and the other entities.
Additionally, other benefits are
sometimes associated with PTC are
increased fuel efficiency and locomotive
diagnostics.
The Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA) and the railroad
industry are working on the
development of Intelligent Railroad
Systems that would incorporate the new
sensor, computer, and digital
communications technologies into train
control, braking systems, grade
crossings, and defect detection, and into
planning and scheduling systems as
well. The new Intelligent Railroad
Systems are key to making railroad
operations - freight, intercity passenger,
and commuter - safer and more secure,
reducing delays, reducing costs, raising
effective capacity, improving customer
satisfaction, improving energy
utilization, reducing emissions, and
becoming more economically viable. The
systems can be implemented as
independent systems, in which case their
benefits will be limited, or they can be
implemented as integrated systems, in
which case the benefits will be
compounded ⁴.
The United States Rail Safety
Improvement Act of 2008 was
instated to require PTC technology to
be installed on most of the US
railroad network by 2015.
The Top 3 Ways That Embedded Technologies Increase Rail Safety
Professional Software Associates, Inc.
7
Rail Vehicle based embedded technologies can be further broken down into the
following 3 main areas of focus:
Tilt Control
Tilt-control technology uses
sensor-controlled actuators to adjust the
railcar body in relation to the “bogie” or
wheel truck on which it rides, depending
on the centrifugal forces encountered.
This allows safer operation and greater
passenger comfort in turns, with fewer
compromises in high-speed
performance. Efficient bogie control also
leads to lower energy consumption and
again, all of these elements are
controlled by embedded system
technologies.
The centrifugal forces of high
speeds lead to the deviation of the
wheel flange with respect to the track.
Embedded tilt-control systems are used
to control the rail car body and minimize
this deviation. This increases safety on
the rail and passenger comfort that is
especially important for high-speed
commuter trains. An additional benefit
of tilt-controlled embedded systems is a
more efficient use of energy by the train.
Passenger Information Systems
In addition, the system entertains
the passengers with the help of weather
forecasts, TV, music, movies and news
broadcasting. All the data is collected on
external servers that transmit
information on screens with the help of
wired LAN or WLAN. The data on servers
is updated in real time via different
types of wireless standards.
Embedded information systems
are an important factor of passenger
satisfaction. They provide such valuable
information as:
Optimal route generation;
Advise on train change;
Information about forthcoming
stops;
Warnings about train delays or
unforeseen situations.
Other Communications
Functions
Embedded systems also allow
Railways to monitor passenger cabins
and provide up-to-date information
about the situation taking place in the
compartments. The system also controls
train doors, subways, records video with
the help of capture closed circuit
television (CCTV) and stores all the data
on a server for later retrieval if
necessary.
1. Tilt Control
2. Passenger Information Systems
3. Other Communications Functions
The Top 3 Ways That Embedded Technologies Increase Rail Safety
Professional Software Associates, Inc.
8
System Technology
The rail system technology
encompasses traffic management and
train protection as well as passenger
information and passenger safety.
Embedded technology has advanced the
technologies used in all facets of rail,
and continues to spread as rail systems
are being improved and built to
accommodate for the expected increase
of traffic, while decreasing the
probability of disasters. An example of
this is how railroad signaling relies on
embedded systems which allows for
heavier, safer and faster traffic. Another
example is how fleet management
companies are utilizing M2M systems to
monitor performance, location and
service efficiency using real-time fleet
tracking.
Just as it sounds, Automatic Train
Operation (ATO) is an operational safety
enhancement device used to help
automate operations of trains. It is most
often used with Automated Guideway
Transits (AGT), which are driverless, fully
automated transit systems such as those
in airports and other similar single-track
systems. Though AGTs are becoming
more common, still most systems elect
to continue to have an operator to allow
for immediate action in the event of a
system failure.
ATO linked with Automatic Train
Control (ATC) systems allow the train to
be automatically controlled when
starting, cruising, and precisely stopping,
along with opening and closing the train
doors. In addition, they can complete
operation regulation instructions such as
station skipping, train holding and
adjusting the running time in the inter-
station. The ATO and ATC/ATP systems
work together to maintain a train within
a defined tolerance of its timetable. The
combined system will marginally adjust
operating parameters such as the ratio
of power to coast when moving and
station dwell time, in order to bring a
train back to the timetable slot defined
for it. Safety-critical tasks can be
reinforced by building redundancy
within the system to ensure maximum
success.
Automatic Train Operation
linked with Automatic Train
Control systems allow the train
to be automatically controlled
when starting, cruising, and
precisely stopping, along with
opening and closing the train
doors.
The Top 3 Ways That Embedded Technologies Increase Rail Safety
Professional Software Associates, Inc.
9
The 2 key areas of focus where embedded technologies are utilized in Rail
Systems Technology are Automated Train Protection and Maintenance Control.
Automated Train Protection
Embedded systems are used to
link trains with dispatch offices, grade
crossings and ensure the security of
railroad workers. These systems are all
part of PTC as well. By utilizing GPS to
determine the location of trains, this
data can be used to control the speed of
trains, prevent train-to-train collisions
and accidents involving railroad workers
and their equipment.
Designers new to automated train
protection can learn from European
implementations of a radio system
called Global System for Mobile
Communications–Railway (GSM-R).
GSM-R. This technology utilizes
frequencies reserved specifically for rail
applications to provide voice and data
communication between tracks and
trains. A train-based computer controls
speed according to various
characteristics of the rail equipment and
operational conditions of the track.
Maintenance Control
Embedded systems are used in
the process of Rail system development
and maintenance as well. Such systems
increase the accuracy and efficiency of
the track laying process. Additionally,
the systems control and visualize the
geometry of the track during the
tamping process with specified
maximum deviation equal to a few
millimeters in all three dimensions.
Moreover, the installation process is also
controlled by the embedded system and
it allows setting the perfect geometry of
the track. The system is designed to
withstand the vibration and to maintain
accuracy in rough conditions of
ballasting and tamping operations.
The Top 3 Ways That Embedded Technologies Increase Rail Safety
Professional Software Associates, Inc.
Embedded
technologies in Rail
Systems
Technology are
utilized in
Automated Train
Protection and
Maintenance
Control.
The Top 3 Ways That Embedded Technologies Increase Rail Safety
10
Conclusion
In conclusion, while it is difficult to select just 3 key ways that embedded
technologies increase the safety in Rail systems, we believe there are three key areas
where we can pinpoint major benefits to embedded implementation in the Rail industry.
For purposes of this whitepaper we believe the 3 top ways are:
1) In-Cab Communication Systems – are the systems which automatically
control excessive speed and automatically enforce fail-safe control in the
event of human error, preventing most, if not all incidents related to these
causes.
2) System Wide Communication Systems – these systems prevent switching
mistakes and control the overall volume and flow on the tracks thus, creating
a much safer overall environment and almost no possibility of train collisions
which occurred previously in manually controlled environments.
3) Automatic Track Monitoring Systems - these monitoring systems ensure
that the effects of wear and stress don’t compromise wheel flange and rail-
gage face geometry which could lead to flange-climb derailments.
Each of these accomplishments represents great advances in technology that in
turn, have significantly increased the overall safety of the Railway industry in many
beneficial ways. Great strides and advancements at increasing security even further will
continue indefinitely into the future and undoubtedly embedded technology will
continue to play a key role in the future of Rail safety for many decades to come.
The Top 3 Ways That Embedded Technologies Increase Rail Safety
Professional Software Associates, Inc.
11
Notes
1. FHWA - Freight Analysis Framework, version 3, October 2010.
2. Modern Railways. “Forecasts for rail passenger and freight revealed.” Published
April 26, 2013.
3. Embedded Computing Design. “M2M and embedded processing saves lives in
Positive Train Control.” Published March 31, 2014.
4. U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration. “Train
Control”.
The Top 3 Ways That Embedded Technologies Increase Rail Safety
Professional Software Associates, Inc.
To find out more about PSA’s Rail solutions fill
free to contact us:
Professional Software Associates, Inc.
414 Lake Nepessing Road
Lapeer, Michigan 48446 USA
Telephone: + 1 810 969 4222
Web: www.psa-software.com
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About Professional Software Associates, Inc.
Professional Software Associates (PSA) is a leading software,
hardware, and product engineering company that provides
comprehensive development services. PSA specializes in
developing innovative products and solutions for domestic and
foreign customers, using quality process standards to ensure
successful delivery of software, hardware, and turnkey products to
our customers.