Wireless routing platform for rolling stock
January 2012
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
Bruce Chen, Moxa
The challenge of wireless network integration in the railway industry.
More and more, the rolling stock industry is moving towards wireless technology to enable network connection and communication for onboard passengers and various control systems. However, solution providers need to address several major challenges if they are to meet the needs of the rolling stock industry. This paper discusses how many of these challenges can be met through the use of an intelligent routing platform.
The challenge of wireless signal coverage
With large coverage areas, it is common to encounter issues of poor or unreliable coverage, while specific locations may simply be ‘dead zones’. Wi-Fi systems rely on access points that support a range of several hundred metres, so covering larger areas requires investing in a dense and well-tuned network of access points. Cellular systems offer far broader coverage, but there is a corresponding trade-off in performance. In addition, cellular signal strength can vary dramatically by carrier and region and there may be few or no options for boosting coverage in dead zones.
Many rolling stock users achieve the best overall wireless coverage by using both Wi-Fi and cellular wireless networks as complements or supplements to each other. For example, supplemental cellular coverage can be added through the use of a cellular gateway or router and Wi-Fi networks may be installed in a tunnel where cellular coverage is unavailable. Some manufacturers also offer specialised rugged computers that are designed specifically for rolling stock, with support for Wi-Fi, cellular and GPS modules.
Any or all of these devices can work together to help ensure a live wireless connection at any given moment, but some mechanism will be needed to ensure seamless operation. For example, a cellular router may be configured so that it is only enabled in the event that there is no Wi-Fi connection. In many cases, a far greater degree of flexibility and customisation is often required. The ideal platform would therefore offer a rich set of tools optimised for managing both Wi-Fi and cellular connections and would be easily programmed and easily customised.
When a wireless infrastructure is in place and signal coverage is no longer the crucial factor, the challenge becomes one of integration. How can multiple wireless communication systems and networks be integrated and efficiently deployed most easily?
For more on the Moxa answer to this dilemma, visit http://instrumentation.co.za/+C15910
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