Research and Development - Indian Railway

Research and Development
Research, Designs & Standards Organization (RDSO), the
R&D organization of IR, functions as the technical adviser to
Railway Board, Zonal Railways and Production Units. Its
manifold achievements in developing new and improved designs
and adopting new technologies for use on IR have attracted
world-wide attention.
Some of the major activities and projects undertaken/
completed by RDSO during the year are given below :
Safety:
● GPS hardware interface for Remote Monitoring and
Management of Locomotive and Trains (REMMLOT).
● Development of Telescopic Boom Crane with Capacity 175
t at 6.5 m radius, 360 0 slew and 120 km/h operating speed
for tunnel work.
● Development of computer-controlled braking system on
ALCO locomotives.
● Preparation of “Specifications Of Formation For Heavy Axle
Load”.
● Development of Digital Rail Tester for ultrasonic testing of
rail with facility to record and store data and to
simultaneously pick up gauge face corner defect along with
normal need based testing.
● Use of Item Response Theory (IRT) software in
computerized psychological tests.
● Indigenous development of Multi Section Digital Axle
Counter (MSDAC).
● Introduction of Block Proving by Axle Counter (BPAC) with
Universal Fail Safe Block Instrument (UFSBI) in
Chakradharpur-Lotapahar and Lathikata-Champajharan
sections of South Eastern Railway.
● Development of Solid State Block Proving by Axle Counter
(Digital).
● Development of LED based route indicator to overcome
limitation of providing indication for only three diversions
on either side of main line.
● Development of Electric Lifting Barrier with hand generator
backup to lift the barrier with less efforts as compared to
conventional winch type lifting barrier
● Development of psychological test battery for selection of
Loco Pilots.
INDIAN RAILWAYS ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2007-08
Digital Rail Tester
Block Panel of Block Proving by
Axle Counter
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32 Port Integrated Passenger
Information System Equipment.
Passenger Amenities :
● Feasibility study on using Diesel Multiple Unit with distributed
power to run on NG sections.
● Development of three phase AC-AC version of 1600 HP
DEMU.
● Development of Integrated Passenger Information System
consisting of train indication board, coach guidance board
and PC based announcement system.
● Development of true colour video-cum-train information
display system for giving information of train arrival /
departure at stations.
● Development of LED based digital clock with GPS
synchronization for displaying uniform time at all locations
on railway platforms.
● Development of the project Satellite Imaging for Rail
Navigation (SIMRAN) to collect Global Positioning System
(GPS) based mapping of railway network and train tracking.
Infrastructure :
● Development of High Reach Pantograph to establish
suitability of running electric locomotive hauled trains at a
speed of up to 100 kmph under high rise OHE to facilitate
movement of double stack containers in the proposed
Dedicated Freight Corridor. Trial conducted on Jakhapura
– Tomka section of East Coast Railway.
● Development of specification for twin Bo-Bo 12000 HP
Electric Locomotive for use in the Dedicated Freight Corridor.
● Development of 1.4 mm conductor dia copper quad cable
to achieve the desired range for Audio Frequency Track
Circuit, multi section axle counter and block proving by axle
counter, etc.
● Development of specification for composite underground
optical and copper quad underground armoured cable.
Operational Efficiency :
● Design for twin cab WDP4 locomotive with light weight
fabricated bogie incorporating improved features such as
increased radiator size, streamlined cabs, control desk with
LCD display, etc.
● Design study for 3600 HP ALCO AC-DC locomotives to
be manufactured at Diesel Locomotive Works.
● Upgradation of the existing design of bogie of container
wagons by incorporating modifications to run with axle
load of 22t at 100 km/h.
● Development of design of BOXN 25, BOBRN 25,
BRN 25 & BCFC wagons for improved pay to tare ratio.
46 INDIAN RAILWAYS ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2007-08

● Modification of design of existing container flat wagons
(BLCA /BLCB), making provision of a bi-level upper frame
to transport auto cars in double deck configuration.
● Development of design bi-level auto car carrier wagon type
‘BCACB’.
● Development of Advanced Trimount High Speed (ATHS)
bogie for WDM2 /WDM3A / WDS6 diesel locomotives.
● Development of single shoe brake arrangement using ‘High
friction’ brake blocks for WDM3D/EMD locomotives.
● Approval of technology developed by M/s Nortel &
M/s Siemens on cross acceptance basis for Mobile Train
Radio Communication system based on GSM-R technology.
● Development of Integrated Control Communication System
to provide improved communication among Section Control,
S & T Control, TPC Control, Emergency Control etc.
Indigenous Development :
● Development of Turbocharger Protector Screen assembly
to protect the Turbine Inlet of the ALCO Engines.
● Development of wheels and axles with improved metallurgy
to impart special characteristics to wheels and axles of existing
design.
● Development of the technology for Wheel Impact Load
Detection System for procurement and installation on IR.
● Development of Electronic Interlocking (EI) capable of
replacing the existing Panel Interlocking and Route Relay
Interlocking systems.
● Development of advance microprocessor based protection
relays and control panel to improve safety and reliability of
power supply system in Mumbai area.
Consultancy
● 180 cases of consultancy were rendered to different
Directorates/Zonal Railways/Production Units on different
aspects of Engineering Components used on IR.
● Technical consultancy in the selection of Train Operators/
Station Controllers, Asstt. Station Masters and Asstt. Loco
Pilots to DMRC and KRCL.
Export :
● Design and development of Cape Gauge, 3300 HP ALCO
AC-DC locomotive for operating speed of 100 km/h and
with microprocessor control for Mozambique Railways.
● Development of design of 2300 HP, 17t Axle Load MG
locomotive for Export to Senegal, A 2300 HP locomotive
with fabricated bogie frame was designed to tap export
market in African countries.
INDIAN RAILWAYS ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2007-08
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