Video Odometry with LIDAR and EGNSS for European Rail Traffic Management System Applications

Register for the Final Presentation of the NAVISP EL2 -009 Project "Video Odometry with LIDAR and EGNSS for ERTMS Applications (VOLIERA)."
 

Technology evolution and visual sensors development has led the railway stakeholders to investigate the suitability to the railway environment of the new emerging technologies. In this context, VOLIERA (Video Odometry with LIDAR and EGNSS for ERTMS Applications) project offers the chance to deeply analyze and characterize the behaviour of LIDAR (Laser Imaging Detection And Ranging) in a such challenging environment as the railway. 

LIDAR data can be processed to provide information related to the train dynamic through a set of well-known techniques, generally known as LIDAR Odometry. Moreover, combining LIDAR data with EGNSS (European Global Navigation Satellite System) information allows to fully exploit the railway environment main assets, like switches, signs and semaphors, with respect to which identify the train position. LIDAR and EGNSS information can be additionally fused with measurement information coming from several kind of sensors, such as for example IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit). Based on the railway domain constraints, sensor fusion based algorithms have been developed in order to let VOLIERA system provide a high accuracy train navigation solution. 

During project execution, a field test campaign has been carried out by equipping a commercial train with the sensors selected to be part of the VOLIERA on-board measurement subsystem: LIDAR, EGNSS and IMU. The on-field data have been analysed to identify the optimal sensors configuration and then the sensor fusion algorithms have been tuned to provide a reliable and robust train navigation solution. The developed PoCs (Proof of Concept) have been assessed by using the on-field data and the obtained results have been reported. As next steps, it is expected to fully integrate the algorithms and to enhance their robustness by ensuring the execution of a massive field test campaign.

The project was carried out in the frame of NAVISP Element 2, which is devoted to supporting competitiveness of European industries.

Please check the Agenda and register for the event!