RAILWAYS
Sub-Centimeter Accurate Positioning System for Railroad Worker Safety (UK)
HARDWARE | FIRMWARE | MOBILE/WEB APPS
Project Overview
Designed a sub-centimeter accurate GPS-based positioning system to enhance the safety of railroad workers in the UK by alerting them when a train approaches their vicinity. The system integrates RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) technology into an asset tracking device that triggers real-time alerts and SOS signals to prevent accidents.
Client Requirement & Objectives
Worker Safety on Active Rail Lines: The system was intended to reduce railroad worker casualties by providing early alerts of approaching trains, especially in remote or high-speed track zones.
Sub-Centimeter Accurate GPS: Required an RTK-based GPS solution capable of delivering centimeter-level location accuracy, ensuring precise positioning of workers and trains at all times.
Train and Worker Deployment: The RTK-enabled asset tracking devices were to be deployed on both the trains and workers, enabling bi-directional awareness and geo-based event triggers.
Alert Mechanism: The device had to issue an SOS alert via buzzer when a train entered within a 20 km radius geofence of any worker, with alerts also sent to the central monitoring server.
System Design & Build
RTK Integration: Utilized Ardusimple RTK modules and integrated them with our existing asset tracking firmware and hardware for high-precision location tracking.
Geofence-Based Alerts: Implemented dual-layer geofencing logic on both device and server-side to ensure redundancy and immediate response when geofences were breached
Low-Latency Communication: Enabled real-time data syncing with the server for quick analysis and alerting, using reliable communication protocols suited for both urban and remote areas.
Modular Device Architecture: Designed the hardware to support both train-side and worker-side configurations using the same device framework, simplifying production and maintenance.
Project Tech Stack
Key Challenges & Solutions
RTK Signal Stability & Speed: One key challenge was achieving reliable RTK lock and fast convergence times in varying terrains. Optimized the antenna placement and firmware for better RTK performance and faster signal acquisition.
Handling Multiple Trains & Interference: Developed an advanced algorithm to detect and differentiate between multiple trains in proximity, minimizing false alarms and ensuring focused alerts only when a critical breach occurred.
SOS Reliability: Ensured SOS signals were triggered not only from the server but also autonomously by the device during geofence breaches, improving safety in network drop-out scenarios
Client
Succorfish is a technology company that aims to offer precise, dependable, and cost-effective monitoring technology that can operate in the most extreme and remote locations on earth.
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