A new network paradigm for low-cost and lightweight real-time communication between train and rail track to detect missing and faulty rail blocks

Abstract

Derailment due to uprooted or faulty rail blocks is an epoch-making problem in many developing countries such as Bangladesh, India, Kenya, etc. Such derailments result in both death tolls and loss of property. Low-resource settings and the paucity of networking infrastructure in remote rail areas of developing countries pose a challenge in devising an automated real-time system for detecting uprooted or faulty rail blocks to stop such derailments. As a remedy, in this paper, we propose a new networking paradigm to facilitate devising such an automated system leveraging a real-time communication between train and rail track, considering the aforementioned concerns. Here, we present a novel ad-hoc network architecture, node deployment topology, and light-weight network protocols for enabling the communication. Our proposed paradigm offers a low-cost and lightweight solution for the intended purpose worth of adopting in developing countries. Nonetheless, the paradigm exhibits a near-to-perfect performance, which we evaluate through both simulation and real experimental evaluation, yet maintaining the low-cost and lightweight status.