European Regional Development Fund Operational Programme “Growth and Employment”. 1.2.1. specific support goal “To increase Investments of Private Sector in R&D” ; measure 1.2.1.2. “Support for Improvement of Technology Transfer System”
Project “Automated railway level crossing control system” Nr. KC-PI-2020/14
Agreement with Investment and Development Agency about participating in Technology Transfer measure Nr. KC-L-2017/14
Project goal – prepare for commercialisation Automated railway level crossing control system to provide safe and secure crossing process and significantly diminish possibility of accidents on level crossings.
Technical solution is based on FMCW radar technology, this technology allow to detect movement direction and velocity of different objects on large ranges with high precision. Usage of several transmitters, receivers and antennas combinations allow to measure movement angle tie-up to radar and get information about object’s size, location and movement speed.
Total financing of project: up to 308 140.00 EUR, included ERDF financing up to 277 326 EUR.
In the period from 01.09.2022 until 31.10.2022
In cooperation with LDz, work is still being done on the installed PAKS prototype at an actual railroad crossing. The main railway infrastructure event, InnoTrans 2022, was held in Berlin, Germany, from September 20 to 23, and was attended by the PAKS team, which was made up of Vents Riekstins, Voldis Zujs, Kristaps Maris Greitans, Eduards Lobanovs, and Sandis Bondars. The project’s “Railway Crossing Automated Monitoring System” (PAKS) presentation and commercialization objectives were the targets.
The PAKS team took part in a number of scheduled events at the exhibition, including one DB RailBaltic hosted about the company’s evolution and future. They participated in a discussion about the rail infrastructure in the Railbaltic region and potential radar uses. Alda Vanaga, the Latvian ambassador in Germany, stopped by the EDI/PAKS booth.
The PAKS technology was demonstrated and discussed with her, and opportunities for improvements were discussed. Chances were presented to connect with German businesses. Visitors to the EDI/PAKS booth who represented a significant US railroad operator company showed interest in the PAKS technology. Additionally, expressing interest were businesses from Poland, Germany, Japan, and other nations.
Following the exhibition, by analysing the contacts made, discussions about the commercialization of the PAKS technology continue with interested parties, including railway operators and infrastructure manufacturers from various nations.
In the period from 01.06.2022 until 31.08.2022
Tests of the radar system are ongoing. The camera operation has been checked and bugs have been fixed. Tests were performed on the built-in DHCP protocol hardware-software code and bugs were fixed with code improvements made.
Work is ongoing on the monitoring system user interface for the central system server, as well as data visualization algorithms and radar management and control software. Work is ongoing on collecting data from the real environment, producing and optimizing prototypes. A prototype has been prepared and work is ongoing on installing it on a real railway crossing in cooperation with LDz.
On July 12, 2022, the Latvian President, Egils Levits, visited EDI and participated in an event where the PAKS technology was presented.
Work is ongoing on processing the obtained contacts, identifying other EU railway operators, and establishing contacts with them to offer the technology solution. Communication with LDz and other operators continues. Preparations for participating in InnoTrans 2022, the main rail infrastructure exhibition organized by Messe Berlin GmbH, which will take place from September 20th to 23rd in Berlin, Germany, have started and are ongoing. A series of organizational issues have been managed, including purchasing the exhibition space, renting stand equipment, and purchasing tickets for participants. Work with the German Chamber of Commerce (AHK) on cooperation with German businesses continues.
In the period from 01.03.2022 until 31.05.2022
Communication with railway operators and infrastructure managers from different countries, with whom contacts have been established, continues.
The development of signal processing algorithms for efficient and accurate monitoring of level crossing is also continuing. A monitoring system user interface for a central system server is in development. Work on data visualization algorithms and radar command and control software has been started. Work continues on data collection from the real environment, as well as prototype production and optimization. A prototype has been prepared for installation on a operational railway crossing, in cooperation with LDz.
Participation in EDI days, by presenting the technology to interested participants.
In the period from 01.12.2021 until 28.02.2022
Continued communication with railway operators and maintainers from different countries, with whom contacts have been already established. Contacts with other railway infrastructure managers and manufacturers are also identified.
Also continued work on research and development of signal processing algorithms to ensure the supervision of level crossings. A monitoring system user interface for a central control system server is being developed. Work is underway on data visualization algorithms and radar command and control software. Work continues on real-life data collection railway environment, as well as prototyping and optimization.
In the period from 01.09.2021 until 30.11.2021
Negotiations have been started with LDz on the automated railways level crossing monitoring system on the support of LDz in the project. Presenting it as the provision of a technology test site and consulting-cooperation of other specific technical features related to the project.
EU railway operators and maintainers are identified, contacts are initiated with several EU railway operators and manufacturers of railway infrastructure equipment.
Research into signal processing algorithms has been started to ensure the monitoring of the level crossings. The development of a radar system and research of the necessary components to collect data for processing real-time environment data, in field conditions have been started.
In the period from 01.03.2021 until 31.05.2021.
Negotiations are continued with PLC “Latvijas dzelzceļš” on the co-operation in the project, as well as talks on provision of a technology test place and consultation on other specific technical features related to the project.
Continued work on the identification of EU railway operators and maintainers. Contacts have been established with several EU railway operators and railway infrastructure equipment manufacturers. Contacts with US and Canadian rail operators and operators are also being established.
Also work on research and development of signal processing algorithms are continued, to ensure the supervision of level crossings. Work continues on the development of a radar system and research of the necessary components for real-life data collection experiments.
In the period from 01.01.2021. until 28.02.2021.
Negotiations have been started with LDz on the automated railways level crossing monitoring system on the support of LDz in the project. Presenting it as the provision of a technology test site and consulting-cooperation of other specific technical features related to the project.
EU railway operators and maintainers are identified, contacts are initiated with several EU railway operators and manufacturers of railway infrastructure equipment.
Research into signal processing algorithms has been started to ensure the monitoring of the level crossings. The development of a radar system and research of the necessary components to collect data for processing real-time environment data, in field conditions have been started.
Participating scientists
Mg. sc. ing. Eduards Lobanovs
Former research assistant
