RFID-Based Navigation of Subway Trains

Most tasks related to automatic control of subway trains require availability of accurate train coordinates. Odometry is the simplest method of positioning, but it tends to accumulate errors. We suggest using radio frequency (UHF-RFID) positioning in addition to odometry, which will allow to nullify the errors and calibrate the odometer sensors for more accurate positioning of subway trains. Active readers and antennas shall be installed on head cars, and passive RFID tags storing their coordinates shall be put on tunnel walls. This paper addresses the topical issue of reliability of RFID tag scanning by equipment of various generations depending on train speed, radio visibility zone and programmed time of tags scanning. A method to evaluate the accuracy of precision RFID-based positioning of subway trains is proposed. Basing on train speed and parameters of reader to-tag communication, it becomes possible to give sufficiently accurate evaluation of a reader antenna position relatively to the RFID tag location at the first scanning. The obtained results are universally valid and can be used both on surface rail transport, and in other related fields.

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