An innovative method of train integrity monitoring through wireless sensor network

Detection of train integrity is a very important research matter affecting safety and more generally railway engineering. Actually the ETCS Level 1 and 2 provide the train integrity and localization functionalities by using track circuits and/or axle counter systems: the problem of these solutions is represented by the high cost of track circuit and axle counter installation, taking into account even the related equipment management. This paper shows the study, design and realization of an innovative method to detect the train integrity, by using the wireless technology. the reference scenario is referred to ERTMS / ETCS (European Rail Traffic Management System / European Train Control System), which defines the modalities for the exchange of signalling information between the track side and on board rail vehicle. In particular, reference is made to a ground subsystem (SST) that implements the ETCS Level 3 only. The designed wireless system is referred to a general freight train that don't have the electric energy on board or at least a low power of energy: for each wagon a logic of vehicle has been implemented to manage the information, instead the communication between neighbouring wagons has been managed by a wireless loop communication, standardized by the IEEE 802.15.4 standard. The definition of a board logic to realize the train integrity represents an innovation respect the actual state of art technology, that does not consider this thematic. At the end, a graphic interface has been developed so as to verify the functionality and the diagnostic characteristics of the proposed control logic.