Main results achieved by ASTRail by work-stream:
1) GNSS technology into the ERTMS Signalling System
The aviation standards and requirements were analysed with respect to their suitability for the rail domain. Various assumptions and requirements were identified for their applicability to the rail domain.
A GNSS-centric architecture for rails was defined considering previous works on the topic. Modelling of the local environment in terms of multi-path errors and radio interference was completed. A radio interference detection and mitigation algorithm was designed. Use cases and relevant position technologies complementary to GNSS were identified, as well as the most suitable approach for the GNSS integration with such complementary technologies. Work was undertaken on the design and testing of algorithms used to diagnose and detect GNSS faults from payload down to local failures. An informed setting of Minimum Performance Requirements (MPR) for the hardware and software was proposed
2) Hazard Analysis of the railway system
A model of the Moving Block Signalling (MBS) system was elaborated and some significant use cases were defined.
The main result was the Hazard Analysis of the MBS system that was concluded applying inductive techniques for Preliminary Hazard Analysis taking into account the defined system use cases and assuming that the main positioning system used will be based on GNSS.
The Hazard Analysis was supported by the MBS system model created with UML state charts and led to the definition of Safety Requirements for all determined hazards and the Safety Related Application Conditions in the area of Operation and Maintenance, where applicable.
3) Automatic driving technologies for ATO
A survey on the state-of-art of autonomous driving technologies was performed to select most promising mature and cutting-edge technologies from the automotive and other application fields. Implementation characteristics and operation conditions of the automotive and of the railway sector were compared to identify commonalities. This permitted to select the most promising technologies for future ATO. Lastly, a qualitative evaluation of the selected reusable technologies was performed considering specific ATO scenarios.
4) Formal languages and methods to be applied in the railway field
The analysis of the state-of-the-art and state-of-the-practice of formal/semi-formal methods in railways was performed. Criteria for ranking the formal languages and tools were first defined and, according to them, a ranking matrix has been conceived for a proper selection of formal methods and tools. Further activity consisted into the definition of a formal process and its application in the integration of the Moving-block system with Automated Driving Technologies The main output was an integrated specification of the system with a semi-formal model, together with its formal translation and formal verification.
Dissemination: ASTRail results were presented by several scientific papers, two newsletters, a brochure, a Mid-term and a Final ASTRail events.
For the exploitation ASTRail counted on IP2SC, X2RAIL-1/-2 and an Advisory Board which the activities were regularly reported to.
