Simulation Driven Real-Time Testing Of a Railroad System

There are situations where a system in mind needs to be tested before it is built. Using modeling and simulation users can apply realistic interactions with their synthetic environments representing real world. In this study, the synthetic environment is a hardware railroad model representing a miniature of the actual size railroad. Simulation software, used to test the railroad system, consists of two software subsystems: a virtual railroad which simulates behavior of the hardware railroad model, i.e., the physical railroad, and the controller which is used to synchronize and control both the virtual and the physical railroads. As a result, the controller represents a prophet and analyst of the physical railroad behavior. This article is logically divided into two parts. The first part gives an overview of equipment needed to test the railroad system; it describes major hardware and software components, their purpose, as well as their interconnections. The second part is focused on major design views of simulation software used to: simulate the physical railroad model, synchronize virtual and physical railroads, and supervise possible conditions that may lead to railroad hazards.