Positive Train Control
We are currently developing a new model railroad test bed to facilitate research on Positive Train Control (PTC) technologies. A key feature of PTC is centralized safety monitoring of all passenger and freight trains in the United States to reduce the risk of accidents. Deployment of PTC nationwide has been mandated by the U. S. Congress. Our HO-scale model of a real-world Positive Train Control system provides student researchers hands-on experience with the design, implementation, and verification of safe and secure software.
Custom Train Tracking Hardware Developed by the On Track CPE Senior Design Team
The Train Localization Board uses a combination of Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and optical tie-counting sensor to determine train location. Location data is then forwarded via 2.4GHz radio to the Data Aggregation Board.
The Data Aggregation Board receives position reports from all trains towing cars equipped with Train Localization Boards and forwards position reports to Android Train Control app via Bluetooth radio.
Project History
Below is a diagram of the system under construction. The additional complexity of the new system will provide new challenges in the development of both scheduling software and the safety monitoring system. Outer dimensions of the new table are 18 feet by 8 feet.
Click Diagram Above to Enlarge
The new Main Line includes several passing sidings and two rail yards. We have also included an East-West Interurban Line that includes two reversing loops as well as crossings at the intersections with the Main Line track. Trolleys traversing the Interurban cannot transition to the main line track and trains on the main line cannot transition onto the Interurban Line. However, trolleys and trains may collide at the intersections between the two systems.
Below are several photographs taken during the construction of the PTC setup.
Additional details regarding this work may be found in the publications listed below.
Scott Schiavone, Sjohn Chambers, Sunny Patel, Lee Ann Hanback, David J. Coe, Jason Winningham, B. Earl Wells, George Petznick, and Jeffrey H. Kulick, "UAH OnTrack: Precision Navigation System for Research on The Software Safety Issues of Positive Train Control," 2014 International Conference on Software Engineering Research and Practice (SERP’14), WORLDCOMP 2014, July 21-24, 2014, Las Vegas, NV.
David J. Coe and Jeffrey H. Kulick, "Positive Train Control: Concepts, Implementations, and Challenges," 2014 International Conference on Software Engineering Research and Practice (SERP’14), WORLDCOMP 2014, July 21-24, 2014, Las Vegas, NV.