LonWorks Transportation Automation Standards Update

RAIL

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF RAILROADS (AAR)
One reason why trains take so long to slow or stop is that their braking systems use pneumatics (air) as both the control signaling and braking system. Consider a mile long freight train - how long does a wave off pressurized air take to get from the first car to the last? In fact, for longer trains, the rear cars' braking systems may not even engage by the time the train reaches a stop. Instead, the rear cars' momentum continues forward while the leading cars, from the engine car backward, sequentially apply the brakes. Separating the signal to stop from the pneumatics can allow braking commands to reach each car's braking system nearly simultaneously, resulting in faster, safer, more controlled stops over shorter distances. From a business perspective, rail companies would be able to run more trains closer together, thus increasing the "throughput" capabilities of the rail system and helping optimize production.

In response to this and other factors, the AAR has chosen the LonWorks system as the preferred solution for converting over 1 million rail cars to electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) braking systems by adopting ANSI/EIA 709.1 (based on Echelon's LonTalk® communication protocol). In the fall of 2001, the AAR updated their ECP standard to include ANSI/EIA 709.3 (based on Echelon's power line signaling technology) thereby encompassing the LonTalk protocol and PLT-22 Power Line technology into the ECP standard.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES

New York Cty Transit specified a LonMark compatible train for all its new trains. The goal was to provide a common reference for subsystem suppliers to help insure interoperability between cars and components.

IEEE

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) adopted IEEE-1473-L in 1999 achieving the organization's goal of the goal allowing intracar and intercar communications between products from different manufacturers. IEEE-1473-L is widely mandated and deployed in rail vehicles throughout the United States including trains and sub-systems for public transit, commuter rail, railroads, and passenger rail applications.

IEEE-1473-L in Use Today
I. US Public Transit Systems

Light Rail Systems	Heavy Rail Systems	Automated People Movers	Bus/Truck
Los Angeles County MTA - Door and diagnostic systems	MTA New York City Transit - Propulsion Control and Diagnostic Systems	SFO - San Francisco - Train Control Subsystem	King County - Seattle Metro
San Francisco Municipal Railway - Passenger Signs	San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit - Train and Brake Control Subysystem	SEATAC - Seattle-Tacoma - Train Control Subsystem
Hiawatha Transit Minneapolis, MN	Paris Metro - Meteor Line Platform Doors	SkyTrain - Vancouver, B.C. - Diagnostic & Monitoring Systems
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority - CBTC Antenna Control	WMATA - Diagnostic Systems	AirTrain - NY - Diagnostic and Monitoring Systems
Santa Clara Valley Transit Authority - Diagnostic Systems

II. Commuter Rail Systems

New Jersey Transit - Comet Cars
Chicago - Metra

III. Railroads

Association of American Railroads - Electronically Controlled Pneumatic Brakes
German Federal Railroads
Swiss National Railroads

IV. Passenger Railroads

Amtrak - North East Corridor Acela High Speed Train

Additional IEEE-1473-L Resources

Get a Copy of 1473-L (http://standards.ieee.org/)
FAQ about 1473-L (http://www.tsd.org/cbtc/ieee1473.htm)
The FAQ contains information about manufacturers supporting the standard, installations, technical support, and consulting.

Aircraft

The AGATE Industry Consortium, managed by NASA, has selected the LonWorks protocol as part of one of its standards for next-generation civilian aircraft.