The Work Packages WP11 and WP12 “Smart Wayside Object Controller demonstrators at TRL4 and TRL6” of the X2Rail-4 project, in the scope of H2020 Shift2Rail, have been successfully completed in 2023. The objective is to demonstrate in laboratory environment (TRL4) and then in a representative operational environment (TRL6) a scalable and flexible solution for field objects and their controllers, using locally derived energy and wireless communications, ensuring the safety and security with smart diagnosis and maintenance features.
The main purpose has been to develop and test the SWOC already defined in X2Rail-1 project, in order to check the functionality/features and architecture to fulfil TD2.10 objectives.
All the objectives, as defined within the project from Multi Annual Action Plan, have been achieved:
- Smart radio-connected all-in-all wayside objects
- Locally derived power supply
- Reduction of power consumptions
- Reduction of required cabling
- Open new ways of railway network information, management and control
- Availability of Maintenance Data
And additionally: Cybersecurity and EULYNX compliance.
The conclusions from testing the SWOC overall demonstrator are positive in all the areas defined:
- Wireless communication: wireless has been successfully implemented, using RaSTA or other protocols; requirements on reliability, availability and latency of the used wireless technology could need to be adjusted for specific use cases.
- Power supply: local power supply systems and reduction of power consumption, including power saving modes, have been demonstrated.
- Smart features as diagnosis and maintenance management: predictive enablers, remote update of SWOC (configuration data and applications), using OPC UA or other protocols.
- Cybersecurity concept according IEC 62443-4-2 standard in order to reach Security Level 2.
