Railway Plant Software Simulation for Logic Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current validation and certification methods for railway plant control and command logic require physical testing on operational plants, leading to prolonged installation times and potential disruptions to railway traffic, especially during modifications, as they lack a reliable software-based simulation for pre-validation.
Innovation Solution
A software simulation program that replicates the railway plant's structure and operating modes using Boolean algorithms, allowing for the validation and certification of control and command logical programs in a virtual environment, complete with graphic representations and error correction capabilities, enabling detailed and visual analysis of plant behavior.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If validation and certification are performed directly on the operational plant, then the reliability of the control and command logic is ensured, but the installation time is greatly prolonged and railway traffic is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the railway plant that allows validation and certification of control and command logic to be performed in advance, before actual installation on the operational plant. This preliminary validation on the virtual model eliminates the need for lengthy on-site testing, thereby reducing installation time while maintaining reliability standards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent generates a virtual model that replicates the structure and behavior of the actual railway plant. This copy includes virtual representations of tracks, signals, switches, and other plant components, allowing comprehensive validation of control logic without affecting the operational plant or causing traffic disruptions.
2Reliability
If validation is performed on the operational plant, then the control logic can be certified, but railway traffic is disrupted during modifications
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual plant enables all validation and certification activities to be completed beforehand, before the actual plant is taken offline for modifications. This ensures that control logic certification is achieved without interrupting railway traffic during the validation phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual plant serves as an intermediary testing environment that mediates between the need for rigorous validation and the requirement to maintain operational traffic flow. All testing is conducted in this intermediate virtual environment, protecting the operational plant and traffic from disruption.
3Reliability
If physical testing on operational plants is required, then comprehensive validation is achieved, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
By creating a virtual replica of the entire plant including all operational units and their interconnections, the patent enables comprehensive validation to be performed in a controlled software environment. This eliminates the logistical complexity of coordinating physical testing on operational infrastructure while maintaining complete validation coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical testing system with a software-based virtual simulation system. This substitution eliminates the complexity associated with physical plant modifications, safety protocols, and coordination requirements while enabling more flexible and efficient validation processes.
Data Source
AI summary
Method and device for checking logical software engines for commanding railway plants, particularly station plants, include at least a computer with at least a central processing unit and at least a memory for loading and executing programs, a logical engine for commanding a plant, particularly a station plant, being loaded or loadable in said memory for its execution, which plant comprises a plurality of operating units for actuating and/or detection and/or measurement and/or signalling, so-called wayside equipments, which units are provided for receiving command signals and for transmitting control signals about the operating condition, and which logical software engine reads control signals given by the operating units for actuating and/or detection and/or measurement and/or signalling and its processes command signals of said operating units based on an operation protocol of the plant itself. According to the invention, in the computer memory there is loaded or loadable and is executable by the computer a software simulation program of the plant that must be controlled and commanded by the control and command logical program, which simulation program reproduces faithfully the plant structure and the operating modes of the operating units provided in said plant.