Setteidea has developed I7ReailwaySim to realize simulators for the personnel training, the demonstration of new technologies and procedures for the traffic management and railway safety.

• Practice and self-training of drivers, based on the “light” version of the simulator (that runs on a stand-alone PC)
• Demonstrators of railway plant, new technologies and new operation procedures
• Virtual driving station, based on commercial HW, for training centers. They may use simplified simulation scenarios, because their scope is limited to the railway context which is the object of practice.
• Fully immersive simulators, integrating real equipment (driver desk, on-board ATP, etc.). The simulation scenario may be realistic, both concerning the driver view (3D graphics) and the modeling of railway systems (line blocking, station interlocking, ATP, traffic control)
• Multi train simulation: it may run multiple trains on the same railway line, driven by as many operators
• Instructor-driven exercise (with faults and system disturbances), with automatic evaluation based on pass/fail criteria (activated on event) and measure of driver performances

The model of the railway system comes from the design data of the line, from digital cartographic data (ESRI format) and, optionally, from photo/video surveys to finely define the contents of graphics 3D scenario. The modeling of signalling system (which is a certified safety system) is based on the black-box approach, aimed to reproduce the logic functions required for the training scenarios. Optionally, the simulator can integrate real physical equipment (ATP, interlocking) to guarantee that the simulator has compliant behavior.

• Model of the railway track, based on horizontal and vertical profiles (possibly geo-referenced), on the infrastructure design data (tracks seat, bridges and viaduct, tunnels, flyovers) and on the schematic drawing (routing devices such as switches, light signals, balises, etc.)
• Simplified model of the signalling system (light signals, line blocking, station interlocking) based on the black-box approach, model of the traffic control centre (train routing, control panel)
• Dynamic model of the train motion and model of the on-board automation system (vehicle logic, traction and braking control)
• Simplified model (based on the black-box approach) of the train protection system (ATP). The simulator has the capability to integrate the real ATP equipment or SW modules, provided by the customer.
• Simulation of faults that affect the trains equipment on-board or the signalling system
• 3D view of railway scenario: tracks, rail switches, light signals, panels, station platforms, devices of electric supply for traction
• 3D environmental models, based on design data of the railway infrastructure (tracks foundation, bridges and viaducts, tunnels), on the digital cartography (ESRI format) such as terrain, civil infrastructure, buildings, waterways, plants, etc. Photo and video surveys may optionally increase the level of detail of the environmental view
• User interfaces: synoptic panel of the central traffic control, instructor panel to control the simulation

The train model simulates its dynamic behavior (the motion along the railway line) and its automation functions (vehicle logic, traction/braking control). The train model can include the simplified model of the on-board ATP or it can integrate real equipment or SW modules of the ATP system (under request and provision of the customer).

• Dynamic model of the train, that considers the line profile (slopes and curves), the motion resistance of the vehicle and the kinematics of train with respect to the track profile
• Model of the vehicle logic (e.g. train start-up, driver desk enable), the traction/braking system (including pneumatic braking). Simulation of on-board faults and related procedures of recovery.
• Simplified model of the on-board ATP system, based on the black-box approach (implementation of logical functions from requirements) and driven by events (driver actions, balises detection, speed limits overcoming, etc.). The simulator has the capability to integrate real equipment (HW in the loop)
• View of the outer scenario (from the driver point of view), based on real time 3D graphics
• Driver interface fully virtual (based on 2D panels and on standard input devices of the PC), driver’s console based on commercial devices (handlers, buttons, lights) or integration of the real driver desk
• Visualization of the simulation progression in chart format (speed, speed limits, balises, events as function of the train position or time)
• Design and realization of the driver station upon the customer specification