TagMaster is supplying RFID solutions to a number
of applications within the railway industry. All the
applications have one basic function, to automatically
identify a moving object, and differ in the way this
identification process is utilised by the system which is
receiving this information.
In location applications, the RFID
equipment is used to identify an ID-tag which is
fixed to the train or wagon in order to know when it
is passing a particular position. The reader is
positioned at the side of the track or between the
rails on the sleeper. Typical applications include
providing track side systems with the location of
each carriage or wagon as it passes the reader.
These systems include track-side systems for passenger
information, condition monitoring and track-n-trace
fleet management systems. Location systems are
applicable to all types of transportation and for
freight and passenger systems.
Event triggering uses the RFID to activate an event
that normally requires an immediate action or
decision, often onboard the train. Examples of
existing applications include Tetra radio channel
switching and neutral-zone power switching.
In all these applications, the ability to provide
reliable identification and condition based decision
making outputs directly from the reader, is a key
factor for the application.
In this application the HD-reader is mounted on the
train to provide an onboard system with the precise
location of the train along the line. Typical
applications include Automatic Train Control (ATC)
systems and Condition Based Train Control
(CBTC) systems, where the ID-tags identity is
interpreted by the onboard system as an actual
position. This information allows ATC and CBTC
equipment to control the movement of the train in a
safe and reliable way. Other applications include
onboard anti-collision systems, which use the
positioning information to confirm the train's
location and provide an additional driver aid to help
prevent collisions caused by signalling, train and
human errors.
