Eurotech, a supplier of embedded technologies, products and systems, announced its ISIS XL embedded computer was chosen as one of two hardware reference designs for Positive Train Control (PTC) applications by Meteorcomm LLC. PTC increases railroad safety through a system of monitoring and controlling train movements.
The widespread installation of interoperable PTC systems in the U.S. is mandated by the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008. PTC technology will be installed on 160,000 miles of railroad track and on board 30,000 rail vehicles by 2015 at an estimated cost of $12 billion.
All PTC Wayside Messaging Servers (WMS) must incorporate an embedded computer certified to run Red Hat Enterprise Linux and the Meteorcomm communications stack, such as the ISIS XL. As an approved hardware reference design, the Eurotech ISIS XL within a WMS can connect Wayside Interface Units to the PTC network to communicate vital data such as wayside status, locomotive progress and speed.
The ISIS PC/104+ board integrates the Intel Atom Z530 processor into a rugged, embedded computer designed to operate under harsh conditions and has an industrial temperature rating from -40 to +85 degrees Celsius.