Case study – Radionika

Railway Safety has a paramount importance. The protection of employees, passengers, goods, and other users of the transport infrastructure constitutes a crucial criterion for the quality of railway services. One of the most contentious aspects of this issue involves railway-road crossings, especially those lacking adequate safeguards. To enhance safety at these locations, automatic warning systems are employed, requiring communication with remote sensors at these crossings. Until now, implementing such a solution has been costly and labor-intensive due to the necessity of installing communication and power lines alongside the tracks.

Thanks to the collaboration with Radionika, a leading producer of reliable wireless communication systems for the railway industry, the EMBETECH team has designed and implemented a dedicated radio communication subsystem for the aforementioned application. A state-of-the-art dual-band radio modem, operating with redundancy using frequencies of 150 MHz and 869 MHz, meeting the highest requirements of ETSI 300 113 and ETSI 300 220 Cat 1 standards, as well as relevant railway regulations, emerged as a pivotal achievement of the project. This device boasts a communication range of up to 2 kilometers with very low power consumption, enabling power supply from renewable sources such as photovoltaic panels. Furthermore, the solution ensures reliable and secure real-time data transmission.

In addition to hardware and software design, the EMBETECH team was responsible for preparing the project for certification tests, meeting the stringent requirements of RED and EMC standards. Currently, the developed communication system is in the pilot implementation phase.

In this case study, we will discuss the groundbreaking solution provided by Radionika, which has significantly improved safety at railway-road crossings while simultaneously eliminating the costly installation of communication and power lines. The commencement of the deployment of this system marks a milestone in the construction of a secure railway infrastructure, opening new possibilities and elevating standards in the field of railway transport.

Challenges associated with existing systems

While safety in railway transport is an absolute priority, existing systems sometimes present significant challenges.

1. The need for sensory communication at crossings:
   
   • Existing solutions often fail to provide sufficient sensory communication at railway-road crossings, especially those lacking adequate safeguards;
     
   • inadequate communication can lead to delays, errors, and safety hazards.
     
2. The costs of installing communication and power lines:
   
   • implementing traditional communication systems requires costly installation of communication and power lines alongside the tracks;
     
   • such investments would pose a substantial financial burden for railway operators.
     

Radionika solution

A key element of our success in improving safety at railway-road crossings is the unparalleled solution provided by Radionika.

1. Development of radio communication subsystem:
   
   • radionika has developed a dedicated radio communication subsystem designed for use at railway-road crossings;
     
   • this system is a crucial component enabling efficient data transmission and sensory communication in real-time.
     
2. High-quality dual-band radio modem:
   
   • the dual-band radio modem developed by Radionika boasts exceptional quality;
     
   • it operates with redundancy on frequencies of 150 MHz and 869 MHz, ensuring reliability in all conditions.
     
3. Compliance with ETSI 300 113, ETSI 300 220 Cat 1 and railway standards:
   
   • Radionika’s solution meets the highest quality and safety standards, including ETSI 300 113 and ETSI 300 220 Cat 1 standards;
     
   • In addition, it complies with railway regulations, which are vital in the railway industry.
     
4. Communication range up to 2 kilometers with low power consumption:
   
   • Radionika’s radio modem allows effective communication over a distance of up to 2 kilometers, providing coverage over a large area;
     
   • equally important, it features minimal power consumption, enabling power supply from renewable energy sources such as photovoltaic panels.
     
5. Capability for power supply from renewable energy sources:
   
   • thanks to low energy consumption, Radionika’s solution allows power supply from renewable sources;
     
   • this eco-friendly approach aligns with sustainability trends and efficient resource utilization.
     

With these innovations, Radionika opens new horizons in railway-road crossing safety by eliminating the need for costly installation of communication and power lines. The solution not only raises industry standards but also paves the way for a more environmentally friendly future of railway transportation.

Design and certification

The partnership between Radionika and EMBETECH extended beyond the mere implementation of the solution. Our involvement in design and certification played a pivotal role in Radionika’s success, bringing numerous benefits.

1. Hardware and software design work:
   
   • the EMBETECH team was actively engaged in the design of hardware and software for the radio communication system;
     
   • our advanced engineering approach allowed us to tailor the solution to the specific needs of the railway industry.
     
2. Preparation for certification tests in compliance with RED and EMC standards:
   
   • our company played a critical role in preparing the project for rigorous certification tests, in accordance with RED (Radio Equipment Directive) and EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) standards.
     
   • as a result, Radionika’s solution met the highest standards of quality and safety, contributing to gaining the trust of customers.
     
     

EMBETECH’s actions within the project significantly expedited the implementation process of Radionika’s solution. Our engineering expertise and full commitment to the project allowed us to adapt the technology to the unique needs of the railway industry.

The benefit for Radionika is that through the collaboration with EMBETECH, their solution not only meets but exceeds the most stringent standards of quality and safety. This has led to customer satisfaction and positioned Radionika as a leader in the field of reliable radio communication systems in railway transportation.

Implementation of the Radionika Communication System

Following the successful design and certification phase, it was time for the practical implementation of the innovative Radionika communication system. This phase brought even more benefits and confirmed the strength of our collaboration.

Pilot implementation

• Radionika’s solution was introduced in a pilot implementation, allowing for precise testing at real railway-road crossings;
  
• the pilot phase served as a crucial stage for validating the effectiveness and reliability of the communication system in real-world conditions.
  

The pilot implementation of the Radionika communication system has yielded numerous advantages. Firstly, it enabled a genuine evaluation of the system’s performance under „field” conditions, facilitating adjustments to suit the specific needs of railway infrastructure. Secondly, the pilot phase provided an opportunity to assess the solution’s effectiveness in practice and gain the trust of customers and industry partners.

The pilot implementation of the Radionika communication system marks another milestone in the ongoing revolution in railway-road crossing safety. Thanks to practical tests and positive results, this solution is gaining increasing recognition in the railway industry.

Benefits for Radionika

Thanks to the advanced Radionika communication system, remarkable results have been achieved, leading to significant benefits that have had a positive impact on the safety of railway-road crossings and the efficiency of the entire railway system.

1. Communication range up to 2 km with high-quality service – Radionika’s solution not only provides an extensive communication range but also maintains high-quality communication services, a crucial factor for ensuring effective communication at railway-road crossings.
   
2. Complete elimination of costly cable management work – traditional communication systems often necessitate expensive earthworks related to cable installation. Radionika’s solution eliminates these costs, resulting in substantial savings.
   
3. Low power consumption enabling renewable energy supply – the Radionika system features low energy consumption, enabling power supply from renewable sources like photovoltaic panels. This eco-friendly approach addresses sustainability challenges.
   
4. Real-time data transmission with high redundancy – Radionika’s solution facilitates real-time data transmission from multiple sources with high redundancy. This means that even in the event of a source failure, communication remains uninterrupted.
   
5. High reliability – Radionika meets the highest reliability standards, contributing to the safety and effectiveness of the entire railway infrastructure.
   

The project’s results and the benefits derived from the implementation of the Radionika communication system are undeniably favorable, positioning this solution as a revolution in railway-road crossing safety. This case exemplifies a successful collaboration between companies that not only elevated industry standards but also paved the way for a more sustainable and efficient future of railway transportation.