Eurotech ISIS XL selected for PTC program
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-ChiefUdine, Italy-based Eurotech S.p.A., a supplier of embedded technologies, products, and systems, said Monday its ISIS XL embedded computer has been chosen as one of two hardware reference designs for Positive Train Control by Meteorcomm, LLC.
The company says all PTC Wayside Messaging Servers (WMS) must incorporate an embedded computer certified to run Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 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 (WIUs) 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 (-40 to +185 Fahrenheit).
"The Eurotech ISIS XL embedded computer is one of two hardware reference designs selected by Meteorcomm, since it meets the requirements for the PTC Messaging System," said Fred Pot, business development manager for Meteorcomm.
"As a PTC hardware reference design, Eurotech’s ISIS platform provides our customers the best starting point for establishing PTC-conformant applications," said Arlen Nipper, CTO for Eurotech, North America. "Developing certified, interoperable PTC systems has the potential to be an extremely complex process for an intelligent system created to read rail sensors and communicate via wayside messaging servers. Our certified reference hardware platform will help PTC system integrators quickly deploy and release their PTC applications on time and on budget."
Installation of interoperable PTC systems in the U.S. is mandated by the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008.
