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Radio-Based Relative Localisation
Challenge
The transition towards automated and autonomous train operations requires trains to know not only their absolute position, but also their position relative to other trains and vehicles. Achieving accurate and reliable cooperative localisation remains a key challenge for the next generation of railway automation.
The solution
Developed within Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking (EU-Rail), this solution contributes to the development of key technologies for automated operation and autonomous driving in the railway sector.
Onboard localisation and wireless communication are key for automated operation and autonomous driving of trains. Wireless communication can provide capabilities such as a localisation sensor without relying on trackside infrastructure. The established data exchange between communication nodes (e.g. within a train, between trains, or between a train and a base station), can be used to calculate the distance between those communication nodes. This distance information can be seen as additional very accurate and independent sensor information for relative localisation (RL). This information can support enhanced manoeuvre orchestration, decreased safety margins in headway calculations and improved collision avoidance.
RL, combined with onboard-based absolute poisoning, enables a cooperative localisation approach which can act as basis for autonomous vehicles and swarm intelligence.
Readiness for Industrialisation and Deployment
The solution is ready for industrialisation in some operational scenarios involving non-public areas, such as depots and yards, either as an assistance system or for automation process in the near future.
Its integration into a general positioning architecture would require further developments. Therefore, full industrialisation is not expected before 2030.
Maturity level
TRL 5
Expected benefits
- The achievable decimetre accuracy improves the capabilities of automated shunting and stabling operations.
- RL ensures coordinated driving with short headways (e.g. moving block, VCTS), leading to increased capacity on dense railway lines.
- As the provided RL information is independent of other localization sensors, a combination with other sensors can increase the level of safety and provide enhanced localisation functionalities for cooperative localisation.
- Compared with RADAR, LiDAR or camera-based systems, radio based RL can achieve higher coverage, while the effects of weather conditions (e.g. snow or fog), dust, or low sun can be neglected.
- As RL mainly relies on onboard units, reduced costs for trackside infrastructure can be expected.
Who benefits
Infrastructure managers
Railway operators
Conclusion
By enabling the reduction of headways for moving block and virtually coupled train sets (VCTS), this solution supports more efficient and flexible railway operations. It also enables the coordination of autonomous driving trains based on swarm intelligence, paving the way for a new generation of highly automated railway operations.
RL enables operational solutions with high degree of automation, increases the accuracy of cooperative localisation and reduces infrastructure costs. At the same time, the independent RL information can contribute to increased safety.
Overall, this solution supports the long-term competitiveness of the market and sector by enabling a more resilient, efficient and technologically advanced European rail system.
Learn more about the project
FP2-R2DATO
To meet the increasing demand for transportation of both passengers and freight, FP2-R2DATO will take the advantages of digitalisation and automation to develop the next generation ATC and deliver scalable digital and automatic (up to autonomous) train operation (DATO) capabilities in order to enhance the capacity of the existing rail networks.