Background

Mobile video surveillance is forecasted to grow with continuous momentum, triggered by the rising demands for public security and safety. In fact, this technology has been widely adopted by both public and private sectors to protect them from crime. Apparently, the surveillance market has shifted from cable-based CCTV structures to go wireless by adopting network technology. For instance, Tokyo Metro Co. will install IP surveillance cameras in over 3,000 subway vehicles, starting in 2018 or 2019, as an initiative to improve passenger safety for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. TOEI Transportation, the authority of transportation in Tokyo, has launched plans to install surveillance cameras in the ceiling of each subway vehicle to collect video footage for evidence use.

Requirements

In order to facilitate all the onboard surveillance cameras in a centralized management, the trains must be equipped with an all-in-one mobile NVR system with the following technological qualities to meet the requirements for the Japanese transportation administration.

CCTV/IP Compatible

The mobile NVR system is built to work in both CCTV and IP protocols, since there are still train carriages deployed with conventional CCTV cameras. Thus, the captured footages by CCTV surveillance devices have to be converted into adaptable formats for IP protocols by the NVR system. In other words, the NVR system must be able to effectively perform IP encoding from analog to digital streaming formats.

Function as In-Vehicle Gateway Computer for PA and PIS Systems

For train automation purpose, the mobile NVR system shall function as an in-vehicle gateway computer to control and manage sub-systems such as PA (Public Address) and PIS (Passenger Information System).

IP Surveillance and Wireless Network

It is an apparent phenomenon that the surveillance world has evolved into IP world. Thus, most new train carriages in the world are deployed with IP video surveillance devices. In this application scenario, the mobile NVR must provide wireless network so that the IP cameras in the trains can function effectively. Besides, passengers today demand Wi-Fi access services when they are onboard.

EN50155 & EN50121 Compliance

For deployment on rolling stock for railway applications, the required mobile NVR system must meet the specified parameters, including temperature, humidity, shock and vibrations by EN50155 and EN50121 standards.

Wide Temperature

Extreme ambient temperature may be encountered in railway operations, and thus the required mobile NVR system must be able to operate in wide temperature ranges, ideally from -40 to 70°C.

IP-67 Rated M12 Connectors

In harsh environments like railways, M12 connectors are necessary for the NVR system as external impacts may occur when rolling stocks are in operation.

Onboard GPS/GLONASS/G-Sensor

GPS tracking is a must for the operating trains for the control center to keep track of rolling stocks. GLONASS is also supported in certain countries. On the other hand, the required NVR system shall be built in with G-Sensor to detect changes in motions.

Solution

Lanner’s rail computers are highly capable of train automation and mobile NVR applications by offering rich I/O connectivity and modular design. The rolling stock series are customizable and designed to be rugged in railway applications with wide operating temperature range (-40 to 70°C) and EN50155 compliance. Besides, all Lanner’s rail computers are built in open architecture for high flexibility and wide interoperability.

For instance, Lanner’s rail computers R3G Series is designed as a cost effective embedded system empowered by Intel® Atom™ x7-E3950 Processor providing quality performance with low power consumption for rolling stock computing application. Designed for rolling stock settings, R3G has gone through extensive vibration and shock testing to comply with parameters specified in EN50155.

As a mobile NVR, R3G offers LAN ports with PoE capability to enable surveillance by IP cameras. Being an in-vehicle gateway, R3G provides mini-PCIe slots with SIM card readers for installation of wireless network modules. The system is built with IP67-rated M12 connectors for harsh rolling stock environments. With abundance of I/O with IP67-rated M12 connectors, including 2 x LAN, 3 x COM, optional CAN bus, Audio, 1 x 2.5" drive bays, 2 DVI-D ports, USB and MIO ports, making it perfect for rolling stock control, automation, surveillance, and passenger infotainment.