Applied Sciences Group - Case Study: Wireless Railroad Network

Automation Solutions

High-Tech SW Solutions

•	R-T Embedded Solutions
•	Custom SW Solutions
•	Software Quality
•	Prototype Development
•	Life-Cycle Management

Energy Mgmt Solutions

Expert Witness Solutions

Project Management

Custom Training Solutions

Case Studies

Applied Sciences Group is a leading provider of custom software solutions to commercial and industrial applications.

Case Study: Wireless Railroad Network

Overview:
Applied Sciences Group participated in the development of a wireless communication network for a railroad company. The network was designed tell the trains whether it is safe to proceed to a particular track. The trains are equipped with GPS systems which report their location to a control station. The network protocol used was called ATCS (Advanced Train Control System). Applied Sciences Group programmed Z80 processor-based 'radio modems' used on the trains. The most challenging aspects of this project were:

•	The radio modem is in every sense, a blackbox. There was very little diagnostics information available from it, making debugging the program very difficult.
•	Applied Sciences Group had to use a customized assembler to program the Z80 CPU. This prevented Applied Sciences Group from using any standardized software development tools and circuit emulators.
•	The modems had to be able to interpret the ATCS in order to break the data up into appropriate transmission packets.

Applied Sciences Group programmers solved these problems by using good 'old-fashioned' programming practices. The entire program was designed conceptually before a single line of code was written. The program was thoroughly tested as each function was added.

Case Studies


•	CO² Fill Zone Control Systems (AB, FIX)

•	Digital Controller Code Upgrade

•	Stamp Machine Upgrade

•	Redefining CEMA Protocol

•	Wireless Railroad Network

•	Secure Protocol for Financial Services Industry

•	Automated Storage Management

•	Mineral Exploration