In the first period of the project all specification and design phases were completed. The achieved milestones (MS) are detailed below:
- MS1 - Requirements fixed: requirements have been completed for Drive-by-Data devices and HVAC subsystem integrated on FDF and SF, as well as an interim version of the requirements for wireless devices.
- MS2 - Internal and external communication and data-management strategies have been released, as well as the project handbook for quality assurance.
- MS3 - Wireless requirements and State-of-the-art completed: a final version of the requirements for wireless devices has been completed, as well as state of the art reports of wireless technologies for Wireless Train Backbone (WLTB) and Wireless Consist Network (WLCN).
- MS4 - Designs of network devices, LTE equipment and HVAC subsystem completed: designs of DbD network devices and wireless equipment have been completed, as well as the implementation of the HVAC subsystem and first interoperability tests of ETBNs for safe train inauguration.
- MS5 - A risk assessment strategy has been fixed, and interim results on communication, dissemination, exploitation and standardisation have been made available.
In the second period, project activities have been focused on the development of prototypes for the three technological domains of Safe4RAIL-2, and on completing their integration in the demonstrators of CONNECTA-2 project. The following milestones have been achieved in this period:
- MS6 – First prototypes of network devices, LTE equipment and HVAC function have been completed for integration in the demonstrators
- MS7 - Network devices, LTE equipment and HVAC subsystem have been integrated in CONNECTA-2 demonstrators. This milestone has included also the completion of the analysis on challenging scenarios for the Wireless Train Backbone (WLTB) and merging of this WLTB with the Train-to-Ground (T2G) link.
- MS8 – A preliminary analysis has been completed on advanced wireless technologies for the train. This analysis has included integration of on-board communication systems, Wireless Drive-by-Data, 5G and Virtual Coupling
- MS9 – Support to CONNECTA-2 demonstrators and interoperability tests have been completed, and a final analysis has been delivered on Wireless DbD, 5G and Virtual Coupling. A final report on Wireless Consist Network has also been provided.
- MS10 - Release of final reports on communication, dissemination, exploitation and standardisation.
The project has produced results that correspond to a Technology Readiness Level from TRL 2 to 5, which implies that the project results can be demonstrated partly in a lab environment (wireless devices) and partly in simulated real environments (TSN devices and HVAC on FDF). Public results are available on the project website, in section 'Deliverables'. In order to perform full exploitation of the project results, they must be further developed to an actual system completed and qualified through test and demonstration, what will be done in the upcoming research initiatives.
The project has been successfully disseminated in various press releases and magazine articles, by means of different communication channels and dedicated project newsletters. Two podcast series could be highlighted – one focusing on the technical WPs, and the other elaborating opportunities with project external experts – that gained interest on social media channels.
