Development Of An Integrated Signal Control System And Consideration For Its Practical Use

• Published in: WIT Transactions on the Built Environment Vol. 127; p. 697
• Main Authors: Ito, H, Shigeta, T, Niibori, Y, Umehara, Y, Hokari, M, Kunifuji, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Southampton W I T Press 01.01.2012
• Subjects: Complexity; Computers; Configurations; Control systems; Integrated control; Signalling systems; Upgrading
• ISSN: 1746-4498; 1743-3509
• DOI: 10.2495/CR120591

The current signalling system in a machine room has a complex configuration, as additional devices like the automatic train protection (ATP) controllers have gradually been installed to raise the safety level. At the same time, these devices and interlocking interact complexly with each other. This complex configuration consequently causes complexity in designing, installing and maintaining the system, and decreases the availability of it. To solve these issues, development of the integrated signal control system, \“Logical Controller” (LC) is in progress. LC is a set of high-performance computers integrating the logical devices in a machine room. Toward the practical use of the LC, there are two major challenges: construction and verification of the integrated control logic, and minimization of the range affected in partial software upgrading or partial malfunction. In this paper, the outline of the LC is described and the techniques for solving the above-mentioned challenges are discussed.