Faster and faster we go! For some time now, even with budget airfares being a popular option, many travelers still view trains and buses as the most cost-effective and scenic transportation method between European city centers. However, other passenger needs have increased in tandem with the breakneck development of network technology, meaning that transportation solution providers have had to quickly step up their game and keep up with current trends.   First and foremost, customers want the fastest Wi-Fi connection speeds possible, which is why 5G is currently in such high demand. Transportation providers have consequently felt the pressure to satisfy customer needs with connections that are faster, smoother, and more secure than other competitors’, all in the name of providing the best customer service possible. And as passengers travel to other countries and regions, they may not have local cellular access, so providing Wi-Fi service is ever more crucial. They may even desire media content to keep them occupied on long-distance journeys – which ultimately increases their overall satisfaction.   Figure 1. nROK 7251 as a comprehensive system.   The task: modernize antiquated transportation computers NEXCOM was recently tasked with assisting a transportation system integrator in Europe who was searching for the perfect solution to update their client’s outdated computing systems.   This solution needed to meet several requirements: Suitable platform for both trains and buses 5G communication-enabled (WWAN/Wi-Fi): to take advantage of upcoming 5G network deployments and provide passengers with Wi-Fi access, but also to employ extra concurrent bandwidth with multi WWAN modules and multi SIMs for better resource management High-performance computing (media resources and storage) to access information easily and quickly, so as to provide passengers infotainment such as live TV and online media streaming, as well as to remotely manage content and perform user behavior analysis CCTV connectivity: to ensure safety aboard public transportation Data security: to provide a hardware mechanism for securing operator applications and data, as well as to prevent unauthorized access   NEXCOM’s 7251 is the one The answer was clear: NEXCOM’s nROK/VTC 7251, an onboard high mixed multimedia and surveillance platform equipped for both trains (nROK) and buses (VTC). The 7251 was especially built for communication and media server purposes, with five WWAN-ready expansion ports, and onboard surveillance, with four PoE ports available for video camera use. What’s more, the ruggedized platform’s isolation kit protected the 7251 from potential power surges. NEXCOM additionally included proprietary software for added security and ease of use.   Communication-ready For WWAN access, the end client deployed four expansion ports with LTE/5G modems, each with its own pair of SIM cards. Having multiple WWAN modules supplied extra bandwidth and network redundancy, meaning that the end client could effortlessly switch between networks when one network was down or provided better latency. Passengers were thus able to enjoy stable Wi-Fi access throughout their journeys. If the client decides to upgrade their LTE modems to 5G speeds, passengers will then be able to enjoy even faster connection speeds!   Media server functionality In terms of multimedia entertainment, passengers benefitted tremendously from network connectivity: they were able to view infotainment and watch live television on seatback screens and handheld devices. The operator could even remotely manage content from the cloud and perform back-end big data analysis on customer preferences, allowing them to refresh and push more relevant content. Moreover, two SATA SSDs were also accessible for media storage.   Equipped for video monitoring Just as with all modes of transportation, safety was a primary concern for the end client. As a PoE railway/bus computer, the nROK/VTC 7251 was able to monitor onboard conditions through CCTV. Four independent PoE ports powered the onboard camera system, providing durability and high speeds. Since surveillance cameras record greater data volume, we included the aforementioned SSDs, with additional BIOS option to utilize mPCIe expansion slots as mSATA storage.   Durable design Utilizing the optional wide input voltage of 24 to 110 VDC with isolation also ensured that the computer and cameras would be protected from damage during power surges. The nROK/VTC 7251 was also ruggedized and suitable for suboptimal environments with an extended operating temperature range of -40 to 70°C and certification to both EN50155 and MIL-STD-810G standards.   Bonus: NEXCOM software included To protect the system from malware and preserve hardware and software intellectual property rights, NEXCOM programmed the system’s hard drives to only be accessible through BIOS password and secure boot and inoperable with any other platforms. Configuration was simple with the enclosed utility software for both Linux and Windows operating systems, allowing the client seamless management of the 7251 platform.   But that’s not all! The nROK/VTC 7251 was a first-rate choice for the client, providing speed, connectivity, and safety with its communication, multimedia, and surveillance features – all in a ruggedized platform. But NEXCOM is constantly and consistently responding to client needs by developing new solutions, such as the nROK/VTC 7252, which provides even more storage, PoE ports, video output, and protection.   nROK 7251 Series nROK 7251-WI-7C4IP nROK 7251-7C4 nROK 7251-7A nROK 7252 Series nROK 7252-AC8S nROK 7252-WI2-C8S

Pavement deterioration, degradation or even road obstacles has always been a common sight for road users. Potholes are known to be one of the greatest issue on the road, bringing forth an increase in stress, fuel costs and mechanical wear while decreasing traffic flow and safety. Thus, to minimize maintenance cost and prolonging pavement life, it is essential for road operators to deliver consistent long-term road condition monitoring (RCM).   Bringing Forth the World of AI NEXCOM’s rugged, fanless, wide temperature (-40°C to 70°C) and durable in-vehicle computers – VTC 6222 has useful AI characteristics essential for the public works sector including, four 802.3at/3af PoE ports supporting IP cameras for surveillance and smart sensors for obstacle detection. Through collaboration with Google, NEXCOM has created an all-in-one AI ecosystem supporting numerous use cases in the public works sector, including object detection and condition monitoring. The Google Coral TPU allows the user to accurately, efficiently, and securely perform inference at the edge. Utilizing proprietary TensorFlow Lite, an open-source machine learning inference framework, this TPU is able to train new or pre-existing models for deployment on NEXCOM’s VTC 6222.   Heading towards an Advanced & Smarter Road In collaboration with Google and SpringML, a fully automated solution for RCM is proposed. With the installment of SpringML’s SpringVision, recording and alerting of poor road conditions becomes reality. Whereas, cameras on the front and side(s) of the street sweepers are functioned to verify road infrastructure/code enforcement violations. All footage will be automatically uploaded to Google Cloud Platform for processing via the company’s private Wi-Fi network as the vehicles return to the end customer’s depot. Road operators will then be able to go on a user-friendly web interface to view and dispatch the results to 311 whenever necessary. Utilizing AI-powered in-vehicle solution while simultaneously minimizing TCO is undoubtedly the future of RCM.   Conclusion E-mark approved, the vehicle telematics computer - VTC 6222 is based on Intel Atom® quad core processor E3950. When utilized with Google Coral TPU, it enables Edge AI applications - RCM through near real-time inferencing whenever low latency detections are needed. With 2.5” removable SSD/SD memory card, and meeting the MIL-STD-810G vibration and shock standards; the VTC 6222 is able to operate normally in harsh environments.   Application Diagram     Key Features For Application Needs Intel Atom® processor quad core E3950, up to 2.0GHz 4 x GbE PoE (IEEE 802.3af/at, max. 60W) Built-in u-blox M8N/M9N GNSS Built-in CAN Bus 2.0B Three video outputs, one VGA and two HDMI 3 x mini-PCIe socket expansion Dual external storage (compatible with 15mm disk) E mark conformity

Across the globe, the marriage of technology and construction, combined with sustained urbanization and industrialization, has arguably led to various countries building efficient and effective modes of public transportation. In particular, light rail systems have received substantial investments from both public and private sectors, especially in second-tier and satellite cities, as they often require fewer costs and less time to launch services.   In designing and planning an at-grade light rail system infrastructure, transportation agencies need to contend with both natural and manmade obstacles, which are usually not major issues with underground systems. In particular, light rail vehicles often share surface streets with and must maintain safe distances from other forms of ground transportation and pedestrians. Agencies must also cope with existing crossroads as well as construct overpasses and underpasses. A quality transportation management system should additionally be comprehensive enough that it can be incorporated in other rail infrastructures and environments, so as to minimize each subsequent railway line’s startup and implementation costs. Furthermore, the system needs to be able to intelligently manage functions such as power monitoring and maintenance needs, thus saving money and downtime.   Though technology has progressed adequately to support completely automated metro system infrastructure, at-grade light rail is not ready just yet. Burkhard Stadlman, Austrian professor and researcher on automated trains, points out:   …On regular train lines, where, for example, you have road crossings and no fences along the track, we’re nowhere near operating driverless trains…They need very good obstacle detection and safety systems need to be top-notch because they ride around in all kinds of weather conditions [1].   Therefore, safety dictates that a train should have a conductor onboard to operate the train and monitor conditions until automation is proven to be completely risk-free for passengers and the external environment. In 2020, NEXCOM’s Mobile Computing Solutions group will contribute such technology to several railway projects in Australia and China by incorporating AI capabilities into their transportation systems, all in the hopes of enhancing public safety and autonomous technology.   System requirements: what does a comprehensive transportation management system need? The conductor needs to have a safe, effective, and up-to-date transportation management system in order to move passengers safely between destinations. This system should ideally consist of four crucial components: an AI-enabled computing platform, communication network, first-rate video capture equipment, and connected driver advisory system (C-DAS). Using an analogy of the human body system, think of the computing platform as the body itself, the communication network as the mouth, the video capture equipment as the eyes, and C-DAS as the “soul” of the body.   The computing platform is the most integral piece of the transportation management system puzzle, serving as the core to all of the other moving pieces and performing complex analysis. Video capture and LIDAR work in tandem with the platform’s computer vision and AI capabilities to distinguish between various foreign objects, such as vehicles, pedestrians, and traffic signals. More specifically, 4k cameras capture high-quality video, while LIDAR sensors measure distances by using light in pulsed laser form. Furthermore, a reliable and lightning-speed communication network transmits data to and from the control center and rail driver, as well as uploads to the cloud for documentation and deep analysis purposes.   Finally, housed on the computing platform and using information provided by the communication network and video/LIDAR components, C-DAS observes roadway situations, identifies risks, and avoids accidents by instantly issuing warnings and alerts to the conductor/driver and centralized control center. Being “connected” with the entire light rail network, C-DAS operates in conjunction with the rail network’s traffic management system (TMS), which controls routing, timing, and movement of vehicles across the network, to guide each driver in operating not only safely but efficiently, avoiding unnecessary stops, conserving energy, reducing wear-and-tear, and avoiding accidents and operational incidents [2].     Light Rail Connected Driver Advisory System (C-DAS)     The answer is here: the light rail C-DAS, based on NEXCOM’s ATC 8010-7DF In light of all of the aforementioned concerns, NEXCOM has introduced the ATC 8010-7DF, a top-of-the-line, AI-enhanced computing platform, to system integrators in some of the world’s most populous cities. The platform effortlessly combines with third-party hardware and software, as well as C-DAS, to update inadequate light rail systems with ones that are reliable and safe, technologically advanced, and fully integrated. Highlighted by its advanced AI analytics potential, the ATC 8010-7DF guarantees unsurpassed graphic performance with the onboard NVIDIA GTX 1080 MXM GPU, which easily handles real-time AI vision. The platform’s compact size means that it’s a perfect fit for smaller spaces and easily upgradeable. Amidst the light rail network’s complex traffic needs, it’s also able to clearly distinguish among various vehicles and foreign objects, as well as judge their distances relative to the train itself.   Not only is the ATC 8010-7DF tested against vibration and shock to MIL-STD-810G standards, it also operates at extended temperatures of -30° to 60°C, making it suitable for harsh environments. We additionally provide eight PoE 802.3 af/at ports with optional M12 connections to preempt the inevitable vibration issues on railways. The PoE ports supply power and connectivity for 4k PoE cameras, to record and immediately relay high-resolution video, and LIDAR, to monitor distances between the light rail vehicle and other objects. These devices all support the C-DAS, which combines this data with AI image analysis and recognition technology, to identify and warn about risks within 300 meters of the railway, including persons, vehicles, and objects. The conductor is then able to control vehicular speeds and maintain safety.   The advanced telematics computer, based on Intel’s 9th Generation Core CPUs, ensures expedient data processing. With two external SSDs that are configured for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10, plus two mSATA drives, NEXCOM guarantees that essential data is protected and storage is ample. In today’s world, as legacy equipment becomes outdated and needs immediate replacement, on top of rapidly increasing data transmission speeds, users have peace of mind in knowing that our onboard WWAN modules arrive 5G-ready and GPS-enabled to swiftly upload to railway systems’ intelligent control centers for analysis and assistance with road condition monitoring. The control center is then able to effortlessly control traffic at intersections, mainline turnouts, and depots.   Conclusion: the successes of light rail means that it’s here to stay Light rail infrastructure has become a popular, environmentally-friendly remedy for urban transportation issues. Introducing the state-of the-art AI and object recognition capabilities of NEXCOM’s ATC 8010-7DF into such infrastructure has been proven to improve overall safety and accuracy. The 5G-enabled WWAN modules, combined with third-party high-resolution PoE cameras and LIDAR, easily connect with the ATC 8010-7DF to provide a fully integrated, intelligent C-DAS. This system, when added to light rail infrastructure, allows governments to quickly build low-cost railways in emerging cities, striking a proper balance between speed and safety. Light rail systems also boost overall transportation capacity and utilize exclusive right-of-ways to increase passenger numbers, without the adverse consequence of compounding vehicular traffic.   NEXCOM is dedicated to revolutionizing the smart transportation industry with solutions that are cutting-edge, yet safe and secure. In meeting customer needs across the transportation industry, NEXCOM provides a wide range of AI-enabled transportation management solutions. For more information, please contact the Mobile Computing Solutions group.       NEXCOM’s Industrial AI Edge Computer Solutions     References [1] T. Cassauwers. “Driverless trains are coming, but what about the workers?” Equal Times. https://www.equaltimes.org/driverless-trains-are-coming-but#.Xs3hAUBuLIW (accessed May 27, 2020). [2] K. Barrow. “C-DAS: taking driver advisory systems to the next level.” International Railway Journal. https://www.railjournal.com/in_depth/c-das-taking-driver-advisory-systems-to-the-next-level (accessed June 9, 2020).