TRAINING
But designs were refined and, thanks to the use of materials like honeycomb alumini- um and a type of foam more commonly associated with flower arranging, perfor- mance improved dramatically (have a look for ‘UoB Crash Testing’ on YouTube).
Getting hold of a portable wind tunnel to test the aerodynamic efficiency of designs proved difficult. But with a bit of lateral thinking, a £40 leaf blower provided more than ample ‘headwind’ to assess the rela- tive performance of the models prior to crash testing.
Building blocks to greatness
The second challenge was to develop a train control system based on the remark- ably powerful Lego NXT Mindstorm kits, usually used to construct model robots.
The kits include a wide variety of elec- tronic sensors, several servo motors, and a controller with software similar to that used for programming on industrial equip- ment. The vehicle structure though had to be made from the same range of materials used for the crash testing (i.e. pine, balsa, card and foamboard).
The challenge was to construct a system that would follow another train without colliding, while providing sufficiently accu- rate positional control to enable the groups’ model vehicles to activate a set of working platform screen doors halfway along the 10 metre test track. As is the case for ETCS / ERTMS systems, authority to proceed was then provided by a radio-based transmis- sion (a Bluetooth message in this case), with trains speeding up a 1:20 gradient to get to the terminal station.
Encouraging results
The teams all went for on-train technology with minimal
trackside equipment –
typically just coloured trackside marker posts. As with the crash testing, there were some valiant efforts, a good deal of lateral thinking, and some novel vehicle door designs. In the end though, only one team managed to meet all the requirements of the specification.
Given the number of ‘gadgets’ employed in the tasks, it was fitting that Jon Bentley of The Gadget Show fame joined the team from the BCRRE to witness the final testing, assist in the judging of
the designs, and award the prizes. The feedback questionnaire completed by the students suggests that it was a success – in response to the question “Has this course persuaded you to follow a career related to engineering?”, 30 out of the 34 pupils who responded said yes.
This is a hugely encouraging result for the team involved in designing and running the event, the sponsors and for the railway industry as a whole.
The course was supported financially by Lloyd’s Register Educational Trust, the National Skills Academy for Railway En- gineers, the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences of The University of Bir- mingham, DeltaRail and HE STEM, the national organisation promoting good practice in the teaching of Science, Tech- nology, Engineering and Mathematics in institutions of Higher Education. The Smallpeice Trust is an educational charity which promotes dynamic careers in engi- neering to 10-18 year olds.
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK
opinion@railtechnologymagazine.com
Saryani Asmayawati, a lecturer at the Safety & Accident Investigation Centre at Cranfield University, discusses the recruitment and training of investigators.
T
he European Parliament Railway Safety Directive (2004/49/EC) called for European Member States to carry out an investigation after serious rail accidents, with the aim of improving railway safety and prevention of accidents, and not to ap- portion blame or liability.
The Directive further requires that the in- vestigation be conducted by a permanent body, which shall comprise at least one in- vestigator able to perform the functions of an investigator-in-charge.
Therefore, recruitment and training of in- vestigators is absolutely crucial to the qual- ity and independence of accident investiga- tions. Credibility of the accident investiga- tors is an important aspect to ensure that lessons can be learned from accidents, and to gain and maintain trust from the travel- ling public and the industry.
Other transport modes specify that inves- tigation should be undertaken by qualified investigators. Accident investigation is a complex task, drawing upon a wide range of knowledge, skills and certain personal
ence in working with air accident investiga- tors and over the last seven years with rail and marine investigators. This has helped to establish Cranfield as a unique global fa- cility attracting investigators from all over the world. Cranfield’s experience is that the use of practical simulation in addition to theoretical training has the greatest train- ing transfer.
attributes. Potential accident investigators might acquire technical knowledge and ex- perience in the railway industry through- out their careers, but investigation skills need to be taught and practised.
Cranfield University has 35 years of experi-
This can range from taking investigators out of their comfort zones to learn their investigative skills in other modes of trans- port to reduce distraction from technical details, to recreating rail accidents in high fidelity on local heritage railways. Only then can investigators develop the practical skills required, such as managing an acci- dent site, handling evidence, accident pho- tography, wreckage mapping, witness in- terviewing, dealing with media, analysing evidence, writing reports/recommenda- tions, and dealing with legal proceedings.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
T: +44 (0)1234 754246 E:
s.asmayawati@
cranfield.ac.uk W:
www.csaic.net
rail technology magazine Aug/Sep 11 | 59
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