MASATS boosts stopping accuracy with new Radar Positioning System (RPS)

MASATS has successfully completed the dynamic tests of the innovative Radar Positioning System (RPS).  This revolutionary application has been developed by AUTO DRIVE SOLUTIONS and adapted to the needs of the railway domain under the directions of MASATS ´engineering team through its Research and Development program.

The tests, that took place at Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya COR facilities in Rubi (FGC COR), were made possible thanks to the generous contribution of FGC by making available the trains and the track for the testing. FGC is a firm supporter of innovative initiatives and is always on the lookout for disruptive ideas with cutting edge technology that can be applied in the railway industry.

The RPS comprises of a radar sensor installed beneath the train chassis and a passive balise in the form of a continuous ruler mounted on the track bed that encodes unique positional data. The system delivers real-time data of the train´s position (cm), speed (cm/s), and acceleration (cm/s²). The balise can be installed either in discrete or continuous segments along the station. Based on the tests, a precision stop only requires a balise section of 16m to be installed in the station´s track bed.

The RPS can be integrated into ATO systems or operate as a standalone driver assistance device, independent from existing signaling system thus it simplifies its integration. In this configuration, a visual interface installed in the driver’s cab indicates the required braking intensity during the stopping phase. The tests conducted at FGC employed this setup, consistently achieving precise stops at the designated point with an accuracy better than 5 cm. Taking into consideration that the normal stop accuracy using external visual references varies from ±1-2m, this level of precision represents a milestone in the railway industry, enabling accurate stopping capabilities for systems that do not rely on CBTC technology.

Once the train has come to a complete stop, the system verifies that the stopping point is correct (i.e. within the specified limits). The RPS can then enable the opening of the train doors, as well as the activation of other infrastructure systems such as platform screen doors and gap fillers.

Applications:

The RPS is the perfect solution for regional and non-automated metro lines (GoA1, GoA2) where there is a desire/request to install platform screen doors (or platform gap fillers) but, the existing signaling system cannot provide the necessary signals to govern the automated operation. It is neither necessary to upgrade the signaling system nor introduce changes to the current train operation. The RPS identifies and acknowledges the train stop position and generates the required signals autonomously based on the stopping tolerances to facilitate the operation of the platform screen doors, or gap fillers.

In the case of a tram way line, the RPS works in the same way except the installation of the passive beacon. In most cases, the tram runs on paved surfaces (asphalt, concrete etc.) therefore the passive beacon is replaced with painted raised spot patterns that provide the coded information. The spot patterns are painted on the ground using the same paint as for the traffic lines making it even easier to integrate the whole RPS operation.

The most important contribution of the RPS is to MASATS innovative adjustable barrier system (PASD): a platform door design able to adjust to different train configurations therefore capable of providing service to lines with mixed fleet.