Re: Ada for high speed rail control systems

[Mike H <postmaster@ada-augusta.demon.co.uk>]

In message <3e9d37b8-0314-474e-b819-6f15f104eaa9@googlegroups.com>, 
trungtruc.nguyen.2012@gmail.com writes
>Hi,
>
>I am an embedded software student (I don't know much about hardware). I 
>would like to work in railway control systems. If someone works in this 
>field, please tell me what I should learn? I have knowledge about 
>real-time Ada (Concurrent : tasks, synchronisation et communications; 
>scheduling...) but I don't know about hardware (chips, 
>microprocessors...) can I work in this area?
>
Google is your friend and 'ERTMS' (European Rail Traffic Management 
System) might be as good a start point as any. If nothing else it will 
give you a lot of relevant leads for background reading that may stand 
you in good stead when it comes to job interviews. Also, it will do no 
harm if, at the very least, you aware that there is something called BS 
EN 50128 and something called BS EN 50159.

Be aware that ALL aspects of railway signalling and railway traffic 
management are regarded as safety critical, so don't be blinkered into 
concentrating on high speed modes to the exclusion of all else. In the 
UK, the high speed commuter trains South East of London spend far more 
time and far more miles on lines other than on HS1. In France, the TGVs 
that serve the Mediterranean coast act as conventional stopping trains 
beyond Montpellier and as run as the Spanish border.

If you are UK based and looking for a subject for a case study or 
extended essay as part of your course work then the it might be useful 
for you to know that The Cambrian Coast line in North Wales has been 
used as the test bed for future adoption of ERTMS throughout the UK 
network. The Cambrian Coast is a spectacular line from the point of view 
of tourist traffic but steam specials are now banned and will remain so 
until someone solves the problem of how to put the driver controls and 
displays onto a steam locomotive foot-plate. Now there is a challenge 
for you!

In stark contrast, a major player in the area of railway signalling has 
used a volunteer run preserved steam railway (North Yorkshire Moors 
Railway) in order to demonstrate an application that they would like to 
be able to sell to the UK national network. Railways are unique in that 
perfectly serviceable 19th and 20th century equipment is retained and 
will continue to be used purely on the basis of a known and proven 
history of safe operation. Do not be surprised to learn that it was not 
easy prove that the miles of (expensive and vulnerable) copper wire that 
are traditionally used to link pieces of 19th century signalling 
apparatus could be replaced by a virtual links in a manner that would be 
invisible to the signal man/woman in his/her cabin. With an element of 
luck, if you ask a few questions of the right people, that is something 
you might be allowed to see at first hand.

Good luck with your endeavours

-- 
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
Mike Hopkins