VALISE - the 'video balise' for precise low cost train positioning

精确的列车定位是《2017年铁路能力交付计划》提出的创新铁路愿景的关键。GPS对铁路来说是个问题，目前该行业严重依赖轨道上的标志、应答器和应答器来定位列车在其路径上的特定点。这些都是昂贵的安装和维护。每个需要它们的新应用程序都会增加基础架构的复杂性和管理负担。适应自动汽车技术的最新发展，火车将能够在不需要任何基础设施设备的情况下定位自己。代替轨道中的物理应答器或应答器，该系统创建了一个虚拟的“视频应答器”- Valise，它存储在安装在挡风玻璃上的前向摄像头中。当摄像头识别出列车正在经过存储的位置时，便会“读取”旅行箱。旅行箱将释放出许多高价值应用的潜力，而这些应用在当今昂贵的物理定位基础设施中无法经济地提供。该项目由RDS与诺丁汉科学有限公司、Omnicom Balfour Beatty、First Group和Network Rail.RDS将开发Valise技术，并将其与视频列车定位系统（VTPS）集成，以提供适合在服务列车上部署的自主低成本系统。该技术将在第一集团列车上的实时演示器中进行试验，并与RDS驾驶员支持系统（DSS）集成。演示者将展示该技术如何用于站台停车和“虚拟”临时限速。Balfour Beatty和Network Rail将验证Valise与现有定位系统的性能，并演示其用于远程监控和调查应用。NSL将带来其在使用卫星定位（GNSS）的“虚拟应答器”技术方面的研发经验。有了这个，项目团队将开发一种集成GNSS和视频虚拟应答器的安全方法，以实现一种能够用于安全相关应用的可靠虚拟应答器。

Precise train positioning is key to the vision for an innovative railway presented by the Rail Capability Delivery Plan 2017\.GPS is problematic for rail and currently the industry relies heavily on signs, transponders and balises in the track to locate a train at a specific point on its path. These are expensive to install and maintain. Each new application that needs them increases the complexity and management burden of the infrastructure.This project takes a completely new, lower cost, approach. Adapting recent developments in technology for autonomous cars, a train will be able to locate itself without needing any infrastructure equipment. Instead of a physical transponder or balise in the track, the system creates a virtual 'Video Balise' - Valise, which is stored in a forward facing camera mounted in the windscreen. The Valise is 'read' as the camera recognises that the train is passing the stored location.The Valise will unlock the potential for many high value applications which cannot economically be delivered with today's expensive physical positioning infrastructure.The project is being delivered by RDS in collaboration with Nottingham Scientific Ltd, Omnicom Balfour Beatty, First Group and Network Rail.RDS will develop the Valise technology and integrate it with its Video Train Positioning System (VTPS) to provide an autonomous low cost system suitable for deployment in service trains. The technology will be trialled in a real-time demonstrator on a First Group train, integrated with the RDS Driver Support System (DSS). The demonstator will show how the technology would be deployed for platform stopping and 'virtual' temporary speed restrictions.Balfour Beatty and Network Rail will validate the performance of the Valise against existing positioning systems and demonstate its use for remote monitoring and survey applications.NSL will bring its R&D experience in 'virtual balise' technology using satellite postioning (GNSS). With this, the project team will develop a safety approach for integerating GNSS and video virtual balises in order to realise a dependable virtual balise capable of use in safety related applications.