IEEE Access (Jan 2024)
A Framework to Define Operational Design Domains for Automated Train Operations
Abstract
The rail system represents a sustainable and climate-friendly mode of transportation, with significant potential for future mobility. To enhance its efficiency and competitiveness in comparison with other mobility systems, it is essential to prioritize the research and development of automated and digitalized rail systems. An operational design domain represents the fundamental parameters of an operational area and the specific application field of a given technical system. This multi-dimensional space serves to delineate the safe area of use of the system from that which is unauthorized. The operational design domain is frequently employed in the development and evaluation of highly automated driving systems. The automotive sector offers the standard ISO 34503:2023 as an advanced method of defining operational design domains for highly automated road vehicles. In order to create an equivalent structure, this work establishes a framework for a railway-specific operational design domain taxonomy. Thus, the definition of an automated railway system is subject to a comprehensive examination and specification. Where applicable, elements of the automotive standard are directly transferred, while others are redesigned to align with the specific requirements of the railway sector. In some instances, non-transferable and adaptable sections are removed, while new attributes are added. In defining the taxonomy and its attributes, the focus is primarily on typical railway conditions and operational tasks, which clearly differentiates it from automated driving in the automotive sector. This paper contributes to the establishment of a standardized framework for defining the operating conditions of automated train operations, thereby paving the way for more efficient and sustainable railway systems.
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