Progress 09/01/07 to 08/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The long term goal of the proposed program is to demonstrate the commercial and economic feasibility of a low cost vital railroad crossing. The Phase II effort includes prototype system design to include a power efficient wireless sensor node and a Vital Processing Unit, and extended testing of the prototype system. The four technical objectives of Phase II are: 1) Prototype design of a power efficient, robust and reliable wireless sensor node 2) Design of a Vital Processing Unit (VPU) to receive data and provide vital train detection and interface with a variety of signal control devices. 3) Fabrication, installation and configuration of the VPU and of wireless nodes with selected dedicated power systems 4) Testing and Reporting During Phase II Central Signal, LLC has setup a test site at Johnson Street Yard, Madison, WI, courtesy of the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad, for this purpose. As required by task 1, four advanced wireless sensor nodes have been designed and installed at the site to provide real time vital train detection and classification information to the Vital Processing Unit. Advanced signal processing techniques, including peak detection method, are employed to uniquely identify the train entering and exiting the railroad-highway crossing area, regardless of their composition and load. Task 2 is underway and a Vital Processing Unit is being designed at the software level by simulations and hardware level by identifying the embedded processor needed. The design process is moving successfully according to the proposed plan earlier. Data is being collected for the following variables: power consumption, transmission characteristics, multipoint communication, susceptibility to interference from trains and other objects obstructing line of sight, operational characteristics over range of weather conditions. On the successful completion of the first prototype later this year, the full system testing will begin at the test site and then independent testing will be arranged. Task 3 will begin later this year after the completion of Task 2. Field testing of the overall system, per task 4, will be done after the system integration and in house testing. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
During the Phase II research, it became clear that the benefits of the sensor level train detection approach out weigh the benefits of the centralized detection approach as far as the implementation of this train detection is concerned. The sensor level train detection also known as distributed detection will result in a further cost effective solution. It will reduce the complexity of the Vital Processing Unit and the radio communications. It will also reduce the power requirements and dimensions of the wireless sensor nodes. It will also enable a simple battery based operation for 5 years of the sensors as compared to solar panel based solution proposed earlier. Project evaluation results have been promising so far. The sensor nodes testing at the Johnson St test site have shown performance gains while reducing the complexity of the overall system. The peak detection algorithm, designed to provide train classification and ensure vitality of this railroad crossing system has performed well under all test cases of train movement and composition. The crossing logic, part of the VPU, has been successful in decoding the train detection information from the sensors and providing accurate crossing status under different crossing scenarios. The vital railroad signal train detection system resulting from the proposed research will compete directly with conventional crossing signaling systems. A low-cost, low-power, vital railroad signal system will have the beneficial effect of increasing options for active crossing signals at rural highway-railroad grade crossings. Elimination of dependence upon commercial power and low device cost will combine to make this crossing signal system the most attractive solution for active devices for rural crossings, improving crossing safety and reducing rural accidents. This off-track detection system eliminates the need for insulated track rail appliances, electrical bonding of rail joints and track wire connections, saving material and maintenance costs for railroads
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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