A Scaled Lab Proposal for Development and Testing of On-Sight Automatic Train Operation

The railway sector plays a pivotal role in the advancement of energy-saving and climate-friendly transportation systems, contributing significantly to global sustainability goals. To maintain its economic competitiveness and meet growing demands for mobility, it is essential that the sector continues to develop in automation and digitalization. However, the deployment of highly automated technologies in real-world railway environments, especially in on-sight driving scenarios, presents numerous challenges. These challenges encompass the longevity of rolling stock, necessitating the integration of contemporary automation technologies with existing hardware spanning multiple decades, and regulatory frameworks that impede agile and efficient development processes. The paper presents a new approach based on scaled systems. Recent studies have proposed scaled testing and development methodologies as a viable alternative. These methods enable cost-effective pre-development and testing of main functions, such as obstacle detection, positioning and communication systems. Beyond testing of individual components, these methodologies support the development and validation of fully functional systems, enabling comprehensive assessments beyond isolated subsystems. ... mehrInitial research has validated the fundamental functionality of scaled perception-based automatic train operation (ATO) systems through limited use case demonstrations. Subsequent studies have focused on vehicle onboard hardware, exploring innovations within localization systems. Triangulation-based methods like GNSS systems were replaced with ultrasonic technologies in the scaled model. These ultrasonic systems replicate triangulation principles, providing a reliable foundation for filter algorithm development. Additionally, a novel camera-based localization approach was analyzed and predeveloped within the scaled setup, highlighting its potential for real-world applications. Furthermore, the integration of scaled phy...