RFID boosts reliability of Hannover’s suburban network
Public transport systems attract a great deal of public attention, and delays or cancellations likewise draw considerable criticism from the affected passengers. Modernising maintenance management systems can help in this context, argues Kevin Canham of Harting.
T
he Harting Technology Group is equipping the Hannover üstra suburban trams with an individually tailored RFID system that should ensure that the vehicles achieve high availability rates.
The Hannover transportation companies, üstra, are planning ahead. Although their trams enjoy a sound reputation and Hannover’s public transportation system has been regarded as exemplary since Expo 2000, it is important to continue developing the vehicle management system with an eye to the future. In particular, there is
scope for
development in the maintenance management system.
Maintenance management
üstra operates almost 300 vehicles of two types for passenger transportation. Strict adherence to maintenance intervals, particularly for key components, is necessary in order to keep the transport system’s safety and reliability at the customary high level. This level must also be guaranteed when parts of vehicles are replaced and upgraded, even when the vehicle and its parts have different ages or are subject to different maintenance intervals.
Some examples of these core components are the bogies, railcar bodies and axles, all of which are essential elements for the operation of the trams.
Until recently, üstra determined the distance a vehicle has travelled by taking readings from mechanical odometers. The computer services area was then responsible for assigning this
should also continue to be handled by strong partners.’
System integration
Above: Overview of system concept and pilot project
further technological
data to the particular components. Reading out the data and inputting it is not only time- consuming: it also leaves a lot of room for mistakes. Replacing components during repair or maintenance work presents additional challenges for the data quality.
Automation goals
Above: HARTING RFID transponder used in the Hannover tram system
The goal of the pilot project initiated by üstra and Harting was to automate the data acq uisition for both the individual vehicle and
its main components. This step was intended to ensure swift and accurate traceability of the components relevant for
testing and
maintenance, while keeping a record of the distance driven with each component.
The manual solution is replaced by automatic data recording, with additional consideration given to the complexity of the vehicle confi guration. In this way, it is possible to minimise mistakes and record the actual vehicle status at all times. The system also has to be suitable for offi ce computer systems, and it must be possible to identify each vehicle while keeping a record of its main components.
In order to optimise the business processes, the computer system will not only control the maintenance and calculate the maintenance requirements: it will also enable the substantiation of maintenance quality for presentation to public authorities.
STAND: C103
Above: Hannover passenger vehicle using the automated RFID system
98 | rail technology magazine Apr/May 13
This point in particular has been signifi cantly expanded in the guidelines from the technical regulatory authorities in
recent years:
The Harting Technology Group not only acted as a successful system supplier in this pilot project: it was also the system integrator, which allowed the company to demonstrate the performance of the Harting components. System integration should continue to be handled by strong partners in the rail sector in the future as well.
Harting RFID (Radio Frequency Identifi cation) transponders with expanded memory and sensor interfaces were selected for this application. In
combination with a
microprocessor, the transponder can be programmed with a sequence controller that converts axle rotations into kilometres.
Because the üstra trams have low-hanging aprons, it was not possible to implement the original solution, which had the RFID reader’s antenna mounted vertically in a wall. In the new solution, the antenna is countersunk in the trackbed between the rails. This means that it must be possible for trucks and buses with a surface load of up to 60t to drive over it. The antenna box has to be heated in order to guarantee that the system works during the winter, because snow and ice largely shield UHF signals.
When driving over an RFID reader antenna that has been placed in the ground at the üstra depot’s entry area, the RF 800 RFID reader fi rst reliably identifi es the vehicle and then automatically reads out the kilometres that the vehicle has driven. The main components, which are given UHF (ultra-high frequency) tags (passive high frequency identifi cation transponders), are also identifi ed. Necessary maintenance jobs can then be initiated immediately.
The Harting RFID system has been designed to ensure reliable use in harsh environments (cold, heat, moisture, dirt and weight) – a necessity for a system countersunk in the ground.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ‘In future, system integration in the rail sector
T: +44 (0) 1604 827500 F: +44 (0) 1604 706777 E:
gb@harting.com W:
www.harting.co.uk
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