Application of sensor technologies for the novel railway signal control system

We have developed a novel railway signal control system using the Internet technology, the system named Network Signal Control System. In this paper, we introduce various sensor technologies applied for the signal system. In particular, we have evaluated the system according to the RAMS (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Safety) method, and then high reliable data-transmission techniques realized by the popular Internet technology are examined. We also achieve technique to detect missing data by using the out-of-time flag, the flag adapted in the data flow. Originally, sensor technologies have significant roles for signal control systems. Several sensing systems are developed and introduced to the signal control system. Moreover, we introduce a novel observation system that is based on the database technology. Server and client system is employed to realize the database, to which every control device transmits its status. This system has been on service on February 2007. We expect that many sensor technologies will be much useful to improve it. © 2007 The Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan.