Design and Implementation of a Control, Monitoring and Supervision System for Train Movement Based on Fixed Block Signaling System with AVR Microprocessor

Abstract

Railway signaling and control systems are vital for the safe control of transport processes in rail traffic. Today, industry uses many processes, such as railway signaling systems, that must be controlled. Manufacturers of such systems have tried to update their products in line with modern industrial control technologies. In this paper, the possibility of using the common industrial automation equipment for a signaling system are investigated. Different parts of the signaling system, including wayside equipment, field element controls (interlocking and object controller) and supervision systems were specified. Then, the interlocking logic was extracted based on a fixed block signaling system. Control, monitoring and supervision systems were designed with an AVR microcontroller and then implemented on printed circuit board. Finally, the outputs of the system and its results with various railway lines, based on chosen layout, were analyzed and its applications identified. These applications include wayside equipment monitoring, the training of traffic control operators, and movement safety tests of the line before setup of the main system.