ATCS: Advanced Train Control System radio data link design considerations

Author

Sheikh, Asrar U H ; Coll, David C. ; Ayers, Robert G. ; Bailey, John H.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Syst. & Comput. Eng., Carleton Univ., Ottawa, Ont., Canada

Volume

39

Issue

3

fYear

1990

fDate

8/1/1990 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

256

Lastpage

262

Abstract

The American Association of Railroads (AAR) and the Association of Canadian Railroads (ACR) jointly initiated an implementation study of the Advanced Train Control System (ATCS) to improve the efficiency and economics of railroad operations. The data link between locomotives and the dispatcher is identified as a vital link within ATCS. The design of this link includes considerations on modulation, data rates, protocol, access scheme, forward error control, and their impact on spectral needs. The steps taken toward specifying ATCS radio-link design parameters to meet operational requirements of railroads are described. Extensive computer simulations to evaluate suitability of the chosen system parameters such as data rate, access scheme, and coding were made under some realistic mobile channel conditions. Results of this design exercise are summarized

Keywords

carrier sense multiple access; data communication systems; mobile radio systems; protocols; rail traffic; transport computer control; Advanced Train Control System; American Association of Railroads; Association of Canadian Railroads; CSMA; FSK modulation; access scheme; data rates; forward error control; mobile channel conditions; protocol; radio data link design; slotted ALOHA; Access protocols; Control systems; Error correction; Fading; Humans; Open systems; Radio control; Radio link; Railway safety; Telecommunication network reliability;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Vehicular Technology, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9545

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/25.131007

Filename

131007