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Enhanced diversity and Space-time Coding for metrO and Railway Transmission

Objetivo

In the guided urban transport domain, there are increasing needs of communications means. A new system for control, command and management of the trains is under development within the European support and is known as ERTMS. This system is based on the GSM air interface, but is disturbed by the presence of severe multi-paths for tunnel transmission. Multipath signal propagation has long been viewed as an impairment to reliable communication in wireless channels. However, transmissions system can face this phenomena using spatial diversity techniques, with "classical" diversity technique or recently introduced space-time coding techniques.

Objectives:
The objectives of this project are to qualify the tunnel diversity propagation channel, and to study the performance of these various diversity techniques for the context of GSM-R transmission in tunnels against fading conditions and radio planning impairments. The results of this work will help the introduction of a reliable underground transmission link in ERTMS.
The aim of this project is to study the feasibility of using GSM-R as a cost effective way of radio links in narrow metro tunnels.
The main operational functions required by train or metro operators are control and command, voice transmission, and video transmission.

The project will cover these topics by using a channel sounding equipment for propagation characterization and algorithms study and verification, and has the following objectives:
1. Experimental characterisation of the multipath propagation in underground transportation;
2. Development of spatial diversity techniques as well as space-time coding algorithms;
3. Dissemination and exploitation of the results.

Work description:
The project is divided in 5 workpackages:

WP1- MANAGEMENT: In this workpackage all the tasks associated with the project management, reporting to the EC, and preparation of contractual relationships will be realized;
WP2- ESCORT REQUIREMENTS DEFINITION: This workpackage will define the final requirements of the project based on operational final users demands, and consequentially the requirements of the testbed; in this WP a state of the art of radio transmission for tunnels will be realized;
WP 3- ASSESMENT and EVALUATION: This workpackage will verify that all technical objectives are continuously in phase with the project environment and fit with end users needs;
WP4- ALGORITHMIC STUDY: This workpackage will realize the algorithmic study of the project based on the channel model developed in WP5, and will focus on spatial diversity with the two levels : classical (with only diversity at one end of the link), and extended / space-time coding (using diversity at both ends of the link;
WP5- CHANNEL MODEL: This workpackage will develop a channel model that will be used by the algorithmic WP for the development and validation of algorithms; this WP will be based on diversity channel characterization in tunnels using a testbed. This testbed will be able to characterize reception on multiple antennas.
The transmission in tunnels will be tested with static and dynamic train continuously between two metro stations;
WP6- DISSEMINATION AND EXPLOITATION: In this workpackage, the tasks related to the dissemination and exploitation of the results of the project, will be realized, including: definition of TIP, preparation of workshop, and relationship with standards bodies.

Milestones:
M1: Breaking of tasks;
M3: ESCORT requirements and end users definitions;
M6: Intermediate Algorithms progress report, TIP intermediate conclusions;
M13: propagation model available, First results on real signals, First assessment and evaluation conclusions;
M15: Final algorithm reports;
M16: Final conclusions on the feasibility of end users transmissions in Metro with GSM-R
(M1 marks the last day of the 1st month of the project, Mx refers to the last day of the Xth month).

Convocatoria de propuestas

Data not available

Régimen de financiación

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinador

THALES COMMUNICATIONS S.A.
Aportación de la UE
Sin datos
Dirección
160 BOULEVARD DE VALMY
92700 COLOMBES
Francia

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Coste total
Sin datos

Participantes (7)