The iopac system was designed to control up to 200 routes, also known as the distance between two consecutive railway signaling points. Its main objective was to provide a train dispatcher with the ability to control all processes on the tram line, that is, to ensure that the parking and control process is simpler and more efficient. The system should also increase overall safety and reduce the likelihood of human error.
In addition to the system details, the specific environmental conditions in Suzhou, such as high temperatures and relative humidity as high as 82%, had to be taken into account. The electronic equipment used in such extreme conditions had to be robust and offer maximum reliability for this critical application.
From his local control point, the train dispatcher controls and monitors every movement in the marshalling yard and on the tram line. He can set routes and control individual location points. The robust and modular IoPAC 8500 series of RTU controllers is an important part of the system, as is the collection and recording of real-time sensor measurements to monitor the condition of railway equipment for proactive resource management along the track.
The ioPAC 8500 series of RTU controllers offers precise data acquisition with high-speed data capture and millisecond timestamp accuracy. At the Suzhou sorting yard, each cabinet contains two paired controllers. This means that any command requires recognition from both devices before execution. This solution enhances security and prevents unauthorized access to the system.
One of the main challenges of the project is the extreme environment. High temperatures and humidity demand industrial-grade hardware and software. The Bombardier CITYFLO 150 software is a key element of the entire project. It requires a robust hardware platform like the one offered by the ioPAC 8500 series, along with high MTBFs. The product's high reliability, combined with its modular design and C programming, are important requirements for choosing this robust platform. Furthermore, compared to competing products, the Moxa solution is more cost-effective, as it combines the controller and I/O into a single device.
