'Black Box' for trains - a runaway winner
25 February 2004
News
An aircraft-style data recorder - the so-called 'black box'for trains, to help investigators to determine the cause of accidents, has won its inventors an industrial award.
Arrowvale Electronics was given a Queen's Award for Innovation 2003 for developing its on-train monitoring recorder. The device records the speed of the train, application of brakes and power, door control operation, and monitoring systems that stop trains passing danger signals, such as automatic train protection, automatic warning system and train warning protection system.
Compatible with a range of trains and railway systems, the black box (which is painted bright orange to be found easily) can withstand temperatures of up to 700°C and very high crushing forces. It can store several days' data from up to 105 channels without power for up to 10 months. It is modular and can incorporate global positioning system (GPS) technology and radio tagging to identify drivers.
It is mandated that after 2005, all rail service organisations in the UK, including those carrying freight, will have to be fitted with recorders.
For more information contact Arrowvale Electronics, 0944 0527 514151, [email protected]
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