System Concept and Development of Railway Qualified Acceleration Sensor Modules

A first objective is to develop a three-axis acceleration sensor module based on commercial micromechanical sensors. The sensors should then be tested for noise immunity and reliability in a typical railway application.

The sensor data is used in the overall system for monitoring a railcar body, with the corresponding functional requirements regarding the quality of measurements and reliability. A scientific examination of the function of the sensors and their behavior on impact, preferably to mechanical disturbance, should be used for selecting suitable types as well as for comparing it to the real measured values at the test bench.

Another goal is, by means of appropriate signal processing, or by using multiple sensors, to improve the signal quality, to reduce the probability of failure and to achieve a validation of the data.