Wireless Control Method of Turnouts in Local Control Mode
Аннотация
This article analyzes the existing methods of local control of railway switches at railway stations, examining their advantages and disadvantages. The currently used traditional four-wire control scheme relies on outdated equipment that consumes high energy and is no longer in production. To address this issue, the article proposes a new control scheme based on modern, low-power devices that enable wireless control of railway switches. The proposed system is built on microcontrollers and radio modules, providing the capability to receive control commands from the station operator, monitor the switch status in real-time, automatically verify safety conditions, and return to centralized control in case of emergencies. The system’s operational algorithm has been thoroughly developed and simulated using Proteus software, with its technical and functional capabilities tested in practice. The article presents the working principle of the developed system, its electrical schematic, technological solutions aimed at ensuring safety, and a comparative analysis with existing control schemes. By utilizing LPWAN (LoRa) technology, the new system ensures uninterrupted and reliable signal transmission over long distances. Additionally, the system stands out for its energy efficiency, ease of maintenance, modular architecture, and significantly reduced operational costs.