Context:
The recent collision between two passenger trains in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district drew attention to the absence of the Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS), specifically the indigenously developed system called ‘Kavach,’ which, if installed, could have averted the tragic incident.
Relevance:
GS III: Science and Technology
Dimensions of the Article:
- Kavach System: An Indigenously Developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) System
- Applications
Kavach System: An Indigenously Developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) System
- Developed by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) under Indian Railway (IR).
- Collaboration with Medha Servo Drives Pvt Ltd, HBL Power Systems Ltd, and Kernex Microsystems.
Components and Communication:
- Consists of electronic devices and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) devices.
- Installed in locomotives, signaling systems, and tracks.
- Communication between devices using ultra-high radio frequencies.
- Logic programming enables control of train brakes and driver alerts.
Field Tests:
- Railway conducted field tests for Kavach since 2016.
- Tests carried out on passenger trains.
Applications:
- Assisting locomotive pilots in avoiding Signal Passing At Danger (SPAD) and overspeeding.
- Alerting loco pilots and automatically applying brakes to halt the train when another train is detected within a set distance.
- Continuous relay of signals ahead for better visibility in low-visibility conditions.
- Automatic speed control by applying brakes if the loco pilot fails to do so.
- Supporting train operations during inclement weather, like dense fog.
-Source: The Hindu
