The REAKT project (https://reakt.sh/ & https://www.schiene-m-l.de/) aims at developing new mobility concepts to reactivate rural rail lines. This project will evolve around developing an autonomous rail vehicle, the REAKTOR,  to flexibly provide on-demand service on single track lines. A prototype will be build in 1:32 scale for 45 mm gauge, as well as a full scale version for the railway track Malente-Lütjenburg.

(left) a railbike, the foundation of the upcoming autonomous draisine & (right) a stripped down LGB engine for a 45mm model track.

Overview of topics (WIP)

The solutions in all topics must be scalable for both demonstrators!

1. An end-user app and management system for on-demand train service
    This topic may be split up into two theses (app & management)

• A mobile app to call a train to a desired location and communicate desired destination
• Locations drawn from GNSS and appropriate abstraction for 1:32 scale for station-less entry or predefined locations
• Management of multiple on-demand trains on a single track line
• Schedules for cooperative passenger pick up
• Provisions for passenger transfer on open track ("Begegnungsverkehr", see concept art here)
• The inter train communication concept maybe based on a central or decentralized structure

2. An autonomous train controller with risk analysis using STPA

• Control of an autonomous passenger train model (conceptually working for both demonstrators)
• Capability for passenger transfer on open track (safe docking procedure; "Begegnungsverkehr", see concept art here)
• Risk analysis for the controller using STPA (http://psas.scripts.mit.edu/home/get_file.php?name=STPA_handbook.pdf)
• Safe behavior model generation using PASTA (https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=kieler.pasta)
• Assumes preprocessed sensor input and destination determination (see other topics)

3. AI-based image recognition for autonomous train control
    This topic will be jointly advised with the AG Distributed Systems

• Sensor processing of a train mounted camera
• Obstacle detection at speeds up to 50 km/h
• Potential hardware (subject to changes):
  • https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/accessories/camera.html

  • https://www.axis.com/de-de/products/axis-p1455-le

• [Optional] Distance measuring using multiple cameras

4. AI-based sensor processing for autonomous train control
    This topic will be jointly advised with the AG Distributed Systems

• Sensor processing of train mounted LiDAR or ultrasonic sensor
• Potential hardware (subject to changes):
  • https://www.elektronik-kompendium.de/sites/praxis/bauteil_ultrasonic-hcsr04p.htm
  • https://www.pi-shop.ch/lidar-ld06-lidar-module-with-bracket-entwicklungskit-fuer-raspberry-pi-sbc

  • https://www.blickfeld.com/de/produkte/cube-1/

• Obstacle detection at speeds up to 50 km/h
• Distance measuring (ultrasonic sensor)

5. A digital twin for an autonomous on-demand train service
   Note: Tight interfacing with other topics

• A digital twin for an autonomous passenger train
• Monitoring system for the state and location of the vehicle
• Remote control capabilities (interfacing with controller)
• Monitoring and economic analysis of on-demand service operation (integration/interfacing of management system)
• Reliability analysis/statistics to ensure transparency of autonomous operation

Goals

• TBA for each topic individually

Scope

Bachelor's or Master's Thesis, with varying requirements to scientific scope.

Related Work/Literature

• https://reakt.sh/
• https://www.schiene-m-l.de/

Involved Languages/Technologies

• TBA for each topic individually

Supervised by

Alexander Schulz-Rosengarten  
als@informatik.uni-kiel.de