1,077 research outputs found

    Technical feasibility analysis and introduction strategy of the virtually coupled train set concept

    Get PDF
    Todays railway network capacity is limited by constraints imposed by traditional train protection systems. A way to overcome those limitations, maximize the railway network performance and also increase the operational flexibility is presented by the Virtually Coupled Train Set (VCTS) concept. This paper evaluates the technical feasibility of this approach, that was developed and is further evaluated in the framework of the Shift2Rail (S2R) project X2Rail-3. The main functionality of virtually coupled train sets is achieved by replacing the mechanical coupler between two railway vehicles by an electronic (virtual) coupling link. This operational change requires a permanent vehicle-to-vehicle communication and precise distance measurement, while enabling much faster coupling and decoupling procedures, increased interoperability and the operation of trains with a headway below absolute braking distance. To evaluate the technical feasibility of the VCTS concept, a series of technical and operational subsystem have been identified and analyzed. Interviews with experts from a variety of VCTS linked topics have been conducted, to evaluate the state of the art and new developments for those subsystems. Subsequently, the capabilities of the subsystems have been compared with the requirements of the VCTS system. In addition, different mitigations to overcome possible obstacles have been identified and evaluated. As the result, the most critical technical aspects for the implementation and success of VCTS have been identified as the requirement of controllable, fast and accurate responding braking systems, the availability of suitable communication technologies and frequency bands, the need for highly-accurate measurement of distance, speed and acceleration and the fast detection and monitoring of train integrity. Considering those results, a qualitative roadmap for the future VCTS development and introduction strategy is derived

    Mobile network architecture evolution toward 5G

    Get PDF
    As a chain is as strong as its weakest element, so are the efficiency, flexibility, and robustness of a mobile network, which relies on a range of different functional elements and mechanisms. Indeed, the mobile network architecture needs particular attention when discussing the evolution of 3GPP EPS because it is the architecture that integrates the many different future technologies into one mobile network. This article discusses 3GPP EPS mobile network evolution as a whole, analyzing specific architecture properties that are critical in future 3GPP EPS releases. In particular, this article discusses the evolution toward a "network of functions," network slicing, and software-defined mobile network control, management, and orchestration. Furthermore, the roadmap for the future evolution of 3GPP EPS and its technology components is detailed and relevant standards defining organizations are listed.This work has been performed in the framework of the H2020-ICT-2014-2 project 5G NORMA

    Attack-Surface Metrics, OSSTMM and Common Criteria Based Approach to “Composable Security” in Complex Systems

    Get PDF
    In recent studies on Complex Systems and Systems-of-Systems theory, a huge effort has been put to cope with behavioral problems, i.e. the possibility of controlling a desired overall or end-to-end behavior by acting on the individual elements that constitute the system itself. This problem is particularly important in the “SMART” environments, where the huge number of devices, their significant computational capabilities as well as their tight interconnection produce a complex architecture for which it is difficult to predict (and control) a desired behavior; furthermore, if the scenario is allowed to dynamically evolve through the modification of both topology and subsystems composition, then the control problem becomes a real challenge. In this perspective, the purpose of this paper is to cope with a specific class of control problems in complex systems, the “composability of security functionalities”, recently introduced by the European Funded research through the pSHIELD and nSHIELD projects (ARTEMIS-JU programme). In a nutshell, the objective of this research is to define a control framework that, given a target security level for a specific application scenario, is able to i) discover the system elements, ii) quantify the security level of each element as well as its contribution to the security of the overall system, and iii) compute the control action to be applied on such elements to reach the security target. The main innovations proposed by the authors are: i) the definition of a comprehensive methodology to quantify the security of a generic system independently from the technology and the environment and ii) the integration of the derived metrics into a closed-loop scheme that allows real-time control of the system. The solution described in this work moves from the proof-of-concepts performed in the early phase of the pSHIELD research and enrich es it through an innovative metric with a sound foundation, able to potentially cope with any kind of pplication scenarios (railways, automotive, manufacturing, ...)

    A Train Protection Logic Based on Topological Manifolds for Virtual Coupling

    Get PDF
    Virtual coupling is a promising innovation aimed at increasing railway capacity. Compared to current railway signaling systems, it allows two or more trains to run with reduced headway between them. However, such reduced headways are a challenge to safety. In this work we consider this challenge by formally describing and verifying an approach to virtual coupling. We propose a general modeling method based on topological manifolds to describe the protection logic for virtual coupling train control systems. We also describe the basic train control elements in topological terms and analyze the line condition of our virtual coupling logic. We establish that the line condition safety requirements and its representation as a manifold are equivalent and further provide a formal definition of the concept of a movement authority with manifold notations. This allows us to consider the dynamic behavior of trains and a series of theorems that establish the correctness of our protection logic for virtual coupling. Finally, we apply the presented methods to a case study. The results show that the proposed method provides a suitable way to realize a virtual coupling logic safely

    Transport 2040: Truck platooning: The Australian case - Technology and transformation

    Get PDF
    This study details a transport mode, a specific technology option in a specific country. In particular, this study covers truck platooning in road transport, with the focus on Australia. The Transport 2040: Automation, Technology, Employment – The Future of Work Report identified a series of key trends in the context of future transport technologies vis-à-vis transport workers’ employment situation and the wider ramifications on the market. Some of these trends are mode-specific, technology-specific, or specific to a certain geographic location and thus they do not develop in the same manner in all local contexts.https://commons.wmu.se/lib_reports/1074/thumbnail.jp

    A hybrid Delphi-AHP multi-criteria analysis of Moving Block and Virtual Coupling railway signalling

    Get PDF
    The railway industry needs to investigate overall impacts of next generation signalling systems such as Moving Block (MB) and Virtual Coupling (VC) to identify development strategies to face the forecasted railway demand growth. To this aim an innovative multi-criteria analysis (MCA) framework is introduced to analyse and compare VC and MB in terms of relevant criteria including quantitative (e.g. costs, capacity, stability, energy) and qualitative ones (e.g. safety, regulatory approval). We use a hybrid Delphi-Analytic Hierarchic Process (AHP) technique to objectively select, combine and weight the different criteria to more reliable MCA outcomes. The analysis has been performed for different rail market segments including high-speed, mainline, regional, urban and freight corridors. The results show that there is a highly different technological maturity level between MB and VC given the larger number of vital issues not yet solved for VC. The MCA also indicates that VC could outperform MB for all market segments if it reaches a comparable maturity and safety level. The provided analysis can effectively support the railway industry in strategic investment planning of VC

    Towards the Internet of Smart Trains: A Review on Industrial IoT-Connected Railways

    Get PDF
    [Abstract] Nowadays, the railway industry is in a position where it is able to exploit the opportunities created by the IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) and enabling communication technologies under the paradigm of Internet of Trains. This review details the evolution of communication technologies since the deployment of GSM-R, describing the main alternatives and how railway requirements, specifications and recommendations have evolved over time. The advantages of the latest generation of broadband communication systems (e.g., LTE, 5G, IEEE 802.11ad) and the emergence of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) for the railway environment are also explained together with the strategic roadmap to ensure a smooth migration from GSM-R. Furthermore, this survey focuses on providing a holistic approach, identifying scenarios and architectures where railways could leverage better commercial IIoT capabilities. After reviewing the main industrial developments, short and medium-term IIoT-enabled services for smart railways are evaluated. Then, it is analyzed the latest research on predictive maintenance, smart infrastructure, advanced monitoring of assets, video surveillance systems, railway operations, Passenger and Freight Information Systems (PIS/FIS), train control systems, safety assurance, signaling systems, cyber security and energy efficiency. Overall, it can be stated that the aim of this article is to provide a detailed examination of the state-of-the-art of different technologies and services that will revolutionize the railway industry and will allow for confronting today challenges.Galicia. Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Ordenación Universitaria; ED431C 2016-045Galicia. Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Ordenación Universitaria; ED341D R2016/012Galicia. Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Ordenación Universitaria; ED431G/01Agencia Estatal de Investigación (España); TEC2013-47141-C4-1-RAgencia Estatal de Investigación (España); TEC2015-69648-REDCAgencia Estatal de Investigación (España); TEC2016-75067-C4-1-

    A Survey on Control Methods for Virtual Coupling in Railway Operation

    Get PDF
    In order to meet the rapid growth of railway transportation demand, the technology that can improve its capacity has been widely concerned. Virtual Coupling (VC) is a new technology to improve capacity by decreasing headways between successive trains. Its basic principle is to control the train formation operation in coordination with the goal of keeping the same speed under the support of data transmission technology such as train-to-train communication. Our paper first reviews the existing theoretical research on train formation operation control, which is divided into four categories: train following, feedback control, optimal control and computational intelligent method. Secondly, by reviewing the related projects in Europe and China, based on the scenario analysis method, five general scenarios and two emergency scenarios in the whole process of VC operation are sorted out. Then, an original, complete list of performance indicators (PIs) is proposed for evaluating the performance of VC in different scenarios. Additionally, the paper gives a brief insight into VC operation by providing an adequate context to understand the proposed PIs
    corecore