123 research outputs found
Assessment and Real Time Implementation of Wireless Communications Systems and Applications in Transportation Systems
Programa Oficial de Doutoramento en Tecnoloxías da Información e das Comunicacións en Redes Móbiles. 5029V01[Resumo]
Os sistemas de comunicación sen fíos de cuarta e quinta xeración (4G e 5G) utilizan unha capa física
(PHY) baseada en modulacións multiportadora para a transmisión de datos cun gran ancho de banda.
Este tipo de modulacións proporcionan unha alta eficiencia espectral á vez que permiten corrixir de
forma sinxela os efectos da canle radio.
Estes sistemas utilizan OFDMA como mecanismo para a repartición dos recursos radio dispoñibles
entre os diferentes usuarios. Este repartimento realízase asignando un subconxunto de subportadoras a
cada usuario nun instante de tempo determinado. Isto aporta unha gran flexibilidade ó sistema que lle
permite adaptarse tanto ós requisitos de calidade de servizo dos usuarios como ó estado da canle radio.
A capa de acceso ó medio (MAC) destes sistemas encárgase de configurar os diversos parámetros
proporcionados pola capa física OFDMA, ademais de xestionar os diversos fluxos de información de
cada usuario, transformando os paquetes de capas superiores en paquetes da capa física.
Neste traballo estúdase o deseño e implementación das capas MAC e PHY de sistemas de
comunicación 4G ademais da súa aplicabilidade en sistemas de transporte ferroviarios.
Por unha parte, abórdase o deseño e implementación en tempo real do estándar WiMAX. Estúdanse
os mecanismos necesarios para establecer comunicacións bidireccionais entre unha estación base e
múltiples dispositivos móbiles. Ademais, estúdase como realizar esta implementación nunha arquitectura
hardware baseada en DSPs e FPGAs, na que se implementan as capas MAC e PHY. Dado que esta
arquitectura ten uns recursos computacionais limitados, tamén se estudan as necesidades de cada módulo
do sistema para poder garantir o funcionamento en tempo real do sistema completo.
Por outra parte, tamén se estuda a aplicabilidade dos sistemas 4G a sistemas de transporte públicos.
Os sistemas de comunicacións e sinalización son unha parte vital para os sistemas de transporte
ferroviario e metro. As comunicacións sen fíos utilizadas por estes sistemas deben ser robustas e
proporcionar unha alta fiabilidade para permitir a supervisión, control e seguridade do tráfico ferroviario.
Para levar a cabo esta avaliación de viabilidade realízanse simulacións de redes de comunicacións
LTE en contornos de transporte ferroviarios, comprobando o cumprimento dos requisitos de fiabilidade
e seguridade. Realízanse diferentes simulacións do sistema de comunicacións para poder ser avaliadas e
seleccionar a configuración e arquitectura do sistema máis axeitada en función do escenario considerado.
Tamén se efectúan simulacións de redes baseadas en Wi-Fi, dado que é a solución máis utilizada nos
metros, para confrontar os resultados cos obtidos para LTE.
Para que os resultados das simulacións sexan realistas débense empregar modelos de propagación
radio axeitados. Nas simulacións utilízanse tanto modelos deterministas como modelos baseados nos
resultados de campañas de medida realizadas nestes escenarios.
Nas simulacións empréganse os diferentes fluxos de información destes escenarios para comprobar
que se cumpren os requisitos de calidade de servicio (QoS). Por exemplo, os fluxos críticos para o control
ferroviario, como European Train Control System (ETCS) ou Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC), necesitan unha alta fiabilidade e un retardo mínimo nas comunicacións para garantir o correcto
funcionamento do sistema.[Resumen]
Los sistemas de comunicación inalámbricos de cuarta y quinta generación (4G y 5G) utilizan una capa
física (PHY) basada en modulaciones multiportadora para la transmisión de datos con un gran ancho
de banda. Este tipo de modulaciones han demostrado tener una alta eficiencia espectral a la vez que
permiten corregir de forma sencilla los efectos del canal radio.
Estos sistemas utilizan OFDMA como mecanismo para el reparto de los recursos radio disponibles
entre los diferentes usuarios. Este reparto se realiza asignando un subconjunto de subportadoras a cada
usuario en un instante de tiempo determinado. Esto aporta una gran flexibilidad al sistema que le permite
adaptarse tanto a los requisitos de calidad de servicio de los usuarios como al estado del canal radio.
La capa de acceso al medio (MAC) de estos sistemas se encarga de configurar los diversos parámetros
proporcionados por la capa física OFDMA, además de gestionar los diversos flujos de información de
cada usuario, transformando los paquetes de capas superiores en paquetes de la capa física.
En este trabajo se estudia el diseño e implementación de las capas MAC y PHY de sistemas de
comunicación 4G además de su aplicabilidad en sistemas de transporte ferroviarios.
Por una parte, se aborda el diseño e implementación en tiempo real del estándar WiMAX. Se
estudian los mecanismos necesarios para establecer comunicaciones bidireccionales entre una estación
base y múltiples dispositivos móviles. Además, se estudia cómo realizar esta implementación en una
arquitectura hardware basada en DSPs y FPGAs, en la que se implementan las capas MAC y PHY. Dado
que esta arquitectura tiene unos recursos computacionales limitados, también se estudian las necesidades
de cada módulo del sistema para poder garantizar el funcionamiento en tiempo real del sistema completo.
Por otra parte, también se estudia la aplicabilidad de los sistemas 4G a sistemas de transporte
públicos. Los sistemas de comunicaciones y señalización son una parte vital para los sistemas de
transporte ferroviario y metro. Las comunicaciones inalámbricas utilizadas por estos sistemas deben ser
robustas y proporcionar una alta fiabilidad para permitir la supervisión, control y seguridad del tráfico
ferroviario.
Para llevar a cabo esta evaluación de viabilidad se realizan simulaciones de redes de comunicaciones
LTE en entornos de transporte ferroviarios, comprobando si se cumplen los requisitos de fiabilidad y
seguridad. Se realizan diferentes simulaciones del sistema de comunicaciones para poder ser evaluados y
seleccionar la configuración y arquitectura del sistema más adecuada en función del escenario planteado.
También se efectúan simulaciones de redes basadas en Wi-Fi, dado que es la solución más utilizada en
los metros, para comparar los resultados con los obtenidos para LTE.
Para que los resultados de las simulaciones sean realistas se deben utilizar modelos de propagación
radio apropiados. En las simulaciones se utilizan tanto modelos deterministas como modelos basados en
los resultados de campañas de medida realizadas en estos escenarios.
En las simulaciones se utilizan los diferentes flujos de información de estos escenarios para
comprobar que se cumplen sus requisitos de calidad de servicio. Por ejemplo, los flujos críticos para el control ferroviario, como European Train Control System (ETCS) o Communication-Based Train
Control (CBTC), necesitan una alta fiabilidad y un retardo bajo en las comunicaciones para garantizar el
correcto funcionamiento del sistema.[Abstract]
The fourth and fifth generation wireless communication systems (4G and 5G) use a physical layer (PHY)
based on multicarrier modulations for data transmission using high bandwidth. This type of modulations
has shown to provide high spectral efficiency while allowing low complexity radio channel equalization.
These systems use OFDMA as a mechanism for distributing the available radio resources among
different users. This allocation is done by assigning a subset of subcarriers to each user in a given instant
of time. This provides great flexibility to the system that allows it to adapt to both the quality of service
requirements of users and the radio channel state.
The media access layer (MAC) of these systems is in charge of configuring the multiple OFDMA
PHY layer parameters, in addition to managing the data flows of each user, transforming the higher layer
packets into PHY layer packets.
This work studies the design and implementation of MAC and PHY layers of 4G communication
systems as well as their applicability in rail transport systems.
On the one hand, the design and implementation in real time of the WiMAX standard is addressed.
The required mechanisms to establish bidirectional communications between a base station and several
mobile devices are also evaluated. Moreover, a MAC layer and PHY layer implementation is
presented, using a hardware architecture based in DSPs and FPGAs. Since this architecture has limited
computational resources, the requirements of each processing block of the system are also studied in
order to guarantee the real time operation of the complete system.
On the other hand, the applicability of 4G systems to public transportation systems is also studied.
Communications and signaling systems are a vital part of rail and metro transport systems. The
wireless communications used by these systems must be robust and provide high reliability to enable
the supervision, control and safety of rail traffic.
To carry out this feasibility assessment, LTE communications network simulations are performed in
rail transport environments to verify that reliability and safety requirements are met. Several simulations
are carried out in order to evaluate the system performance and select the most appropriate system
configuration in each case. Simulations of Wi-Fi based networks are also carried out, since it is the
most used solution in subways, to compare the results with those obtained for LTE.
To perform the simulations correctly, appropriate radio propagation models must be used. Both
deterministic models and models based on the results of measurement campaigns in these scenarios are
used in the simulations.
The simulations use the different information flows present in the railway transportation systems to
verify that its quality of service requirements are met. For example, critical flows for railway control,
such as the European Train Control System (ETCS) or Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC),
require high reliability and low delay communications to ensure the proper functioning of the system
Integrating renewable energy resources into the smart grid: recent developments in information and communication technologies
Rising energy costs, losses in the present-day electricity grid, risks from nuclear power generation, and global environmental changes are motivating a transformation of the conventional ways of generating electricity. Globally, there is a desire to rely more on renewable energy resources (RERs) for electricity generation. RERs reduce green house gas emissions and may have economic benefits, e.g., through applying demand side management with dynamic pricing so as to shift loads from fossil fuel-based generators to RERs. The electricity grid is presently evolving towards an intelligent grid, the so-called smart grid (SG). One of the major goals of the future SG is to move towards 100% electricity generation from RERs, i.e., towards a 100% renewable grid. However, the disparate, intermittent, and typically widely geographically distributed nature of RERs complicates the integration of RERs into the SG. Moreover, individual RERs have generally lower capacity than conventional fossil-fuel plants, and these RERs are based on a wide spectrum of different technologies. In this article, we give an overview of recent efforts that aim to integrate RERs into the SG. We outline the integration of RERs into the SG along with their supporting communication networks. We also discuss ongoing projects that seek to integrate RERs into the SG around the globe. Finally, we outline future research directions on integrating RERs into the SG
Systems engineering framework for railway control & safety systems
Traditional railway signalling systems have been based on fixed block train separation and line-of-sight signals to control the movement of trains. This has historically led to a segregation of both the functionality and the development of sub-systems such as signalling, rolling stock and control centres, all following a sequential design-based approach in their development.
These traditional systems are becoming increasingly redundant as the railway industry embraces modern systems such as the higher levels of ERTMS and CBTC. With the change to these complex systems of systems also comes a change in the way in which the industry must develop and deliver projects.
The railway industry has, at times, struggled to embrace systems engineering, as it is perceived to run against the safety-focused design approach that rightfully enjoys a high status within the industry. Many engineers in the industry who are familiar with the traditional design based approach also struggle with relating the new systems to the traditional principles that they are used to.
This research investigates the feasibility of producing a systems engineering framework that can be applied to all forms of Railway Control & Safety (RCS) systems in order to simplify their development and delivery
Access point deployment optimisation in communication-based train control systems
Through the use of new communication-based train control (CBTC) systems, modern metro railways have been able to provide a more efficient, more reliable and more eco-friendly transport services. The main advantages of the CBTC systems are achieved by utilising modern communication technologies. The performance of the communications network is dependent on a well-designed access point (AP) deployment, as this determines the overall communication capability and impacts the cost. In this thesis, a systematic methodology is proposed for formulating and solving AP deployment planning (ADP) problems in two scenarios: (i) a tunnel section area; and (ii) a real-world metro system. Different mathematical models are presented for modelling the ADP problem in these two scenarios. In addition to mathematical models, an exhaustive search and a customized search algorithm, which uses a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm based on decomposition (MOEA/D), are proposed for solving the ADP optimisation problems. The methodologies are applied to the scenarios mentioned above. To evaluate the optimisation results, the optimised AP deployments are tested on a simulation platform integrating a railway network simulator and a communication network simulator. The test result shows that with the optimised AP deployments the DCS can achieve a better performance while using fewer APs
component testing
Este relatório/dissertação foi desenvolvido no âmbito do Curso de Mestrado em Engenharia
Eletrotécnica, e para a Unidade Curricular de Estágio, e representa o trabalho desenvolvido
na empresa Critical Software, no âmbito do projeto interno Railway Embedded Software
Validation na área de Component Testing.
No projeto em que está envolvido este estágio, visa-se testar componentes do sistema de
controlo do comboio (Luzes, Travagem, ...), ou seja, testar se uma das partes dos
componentes está a funcionar dentro dos parâmetros exigidos e/ou estabelecidos.
Para isso foi necessário passar por um processo de aprendizagem com várias etapas, entre
as quais se podem destacar: - como funcionam os comboios; - como são aplicadas as normas;
- como são descritos os requisitos necessários para que os comboios funcionem dentro dos
parâmetros de segurança. Com isso em perspetiva, foram realizadas atividades de verificação
formal, com objetivo fazer a especificação e desenvolvimento dos diversos níveis de teste o
sistema.
Alguns dos sistemas estudados foram de tração, sistema de travagem, controlos do
motorista e de diagnóstico
Simulation combined model-based testing method for train control systems
A Train Control System (TCS) is utilised to guard the operational safety of the trains in railway systems. Therefore, functional testing is applied to verify consistency between the TCS and specification requirements. Traditional functional testing in TCSs is mainly based on manually designed test cases, which is becoming unsuitable for testing increasingly complex TCSs. Therefore, Model-Based Testing (MBT) methods have been introduced into TCS functional testing, to improve the efficiency and coverage of TCS testing, with application difficulties. To overcome the difficulties of applying MBT methods to test TCSs, the author introduces simulation combined MBT which combines an MBT method with simulation. Modelling method and implementation method for the proposed approach were explained in detail. Two case studies were undertaken to explore the effectiveness of the testing platform developed. The testing results obtained prove that the testing platform can be utilised to implement the functional testing of TCSs. To prove that the MBT platform is effective in detecting errors in the SUT, validation and verification was undertaken, which include validation of specification requirements and verification of the MBT platform. The testing performance is proven to be better than existing MBT methods in terms of coverage and efficiency
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