Driver assistance systems have been developed to a high level in the automotive sector. In the future, this expertise will also be used to improve the efficiency and safety of rail vehicles. An increasing number of rail vehicle manufacturers and operators are therefore turning to the proven sensor technology of the automotive sector — an area in which Syslogic specialises with its new Railway Computer RML-R10 SPE.
A railway-certified embedded computer with four single-pair Ethernet interfaces is now available for the first time. According to Benjamin Gassler, Syslogic's Product Manager, this allows proven sensor technology from the automotive sector to be integrated into railway applications.
The Railway Computer RML-R10 SPE is particularly well-suited to collision warning systems and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). Each SPE interface has its own dedicated Network Interface Controller (NIC). This enables real-time communication with cameras and other sensors. The RML-R10 also supports deterministic communication protocols, such as TSN (Time-Sensitive Networking), and enables data rates of up to 1 Gbit/s. Another advantage for the rail industry is that the SPE allows cable lengths of up to 40 metres.
The SPE interfaces are supplemented by four Gigabit LAN interfaces, as well as CAN and RS232. This layout makes the railway computer suitable for a variety of rolling stock applications. With 5G RedCap, reliable and future-proof cloud communication is also guaranteed. Another highlight is the optional uBlox GNSS receiver, which enables RTK and dead reckoning functions without the need for additional hardware. This allows rail vehicles to be located with pinpoint accuracy, even in tunnels or busy stations, thanks to dead reckoning.
At the heart of the new railway computer is the 13th-generation Intel® Core™ i7 (Raptor Lake) processor with hybrid architecture. This combines performance and efficiency cores. The eight efficiency cores are designed for simple tasks and low power consumption, reducing the system's energy usage. Meanwhile, the six performance cores process computing-intensive tasks. Thanks to this technology and innovative 10nm chip production (Intel 7), the new processor delivers high multithreading performance while consuming less power. The maximum turbo clock frequency is 5.2 GHz. With 64 GB of RAM, several applications can be virtualised in parallel.
Other highlights of the new processor include PCIe 5.0 for fast data transfer and improved graphics performance, as well as cyber security features such as TPM 2.0, UEFI Secure Boot, Intel Control-Flow Enforcement (CET) and Intel Total Memory Encryption, which ensure data security and system integrity.
The RML-R 10 has been specially developed for use in rail vehicles and meets several key railway standards, including EN 50155 Class OT4 for an extended temperature range, EN 50125 for environmental conditions, EN 45545-2 HL3 for fire protection, and EN 61373 for shock and vibration resistance. In accordance with EN50155 class S2, it offers 10 ms power failure bridging and fulfils EMC and insulation requirements in accordance with EN50121. Thanks to its galvanically isolated wide-range input of 16.8 to 137.5 VDC, the rolling stock computer can operate with all common vehicle electrical systems without the need for additional DC/DC converters.
Benjamin Gassler, Product Manager at Syslogic, says, 'With the RML-R10, Syslogic combines its many years of rail expertise with Intel's new and powerful Raptor Lake series.' The railway computer also enables the integration of automotive sensor technology, which Gassler says will give a huge boost to future railway applications.
