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路径上的特定点。这些设备的安装和维护费用很高。每一个需要它们的新应用程序都会增加基础设施的复杂性和管理负担。该项目采用了一种全新的、成本更低的方法。适应自动驾驶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进行自我定位。该系统不是在轨道上安装物理应答器或应答器，而是创建一个虚拟的“视频应答器”-Valise，它存储在安装在挡风玻璃上的前置摄像头中。当摄像机识别列车正在通过存储位置时，Valise就会被读取。Valise将释放许多高价值应用的潜力，这些应用无法通过当今昂贵的物理定位基础设施经济地交付。该项目由RDS与诺丁汉科学有限公司、宏盟Balfour Beatty、第一集团和网络铁路合作交付。RDS将开发Valise技术并将其与其视频列车定位系统(VTPS)集成，以提供适合在服务列车上部署的自主低成本系统。这项技术将在First Group列车上的实时演示器上进行试验，该列车与RDS驾驶员支持系统(DSS)集成。演示者将展示如何将该技术应用于站台停车和“虚拟”临时限速。Balfour Beatty和Network Rail将针对现有定位系统验证Valise的性能，并展示其在远程监控和调查应用中的应用。NSL将带来其使用卫星定位(GNSS)的“虚拟应答器”技术的研发经验。在此基础上，项目组将开发一种整合GNSS和视频虚拟应答器的安全方法，以实现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.