Natural Interaction: A Mechanism for Mistake Proofing Operator’s Errors on Trains

Railroad accidents are not only very expensive but also fatal. National Transportation safety data from 2000–2011 indicate staggering numbers — a total of 141 fatalities and 5118 injuries. Filtering Board’s reports on train accidents in last decade point to 28% of fatalities classified as the driver’s fault. The reports also provide that accidents occurring due to operators’ failure amount to a total of $162 million dollars in revenue loss. Most of the accidents caused by operators occur due to miss communication and less response time along with lack of judgment during a crisis situation. Parameters such as Fatigue, reflexes and alertness can be based on many ergonomic factors. Projecting the path of action in advance can assist operators to recognize calamity ahead and prevent them. Software that can enable operators to get trained in a virtual environment with actual control operations in place would be perfect alternative to prepare them for crisis situation in real world. Available train simulator software represents realistic view of operator cab and allows Operators to recreate conditions similar to that encountered in real world. Current work is aimed at enhancing such software with options that can enable operator to integrate alerts, speed changes along the route and have up-to-date traffic information, signal situations and schedule breaks and assists them to act in consequence and function more efficiently to handle crucial situations. This software can also display information, such as operators own position, and relay systems alerts more efficiently, which eliminates miss-communication of operator and control center due to lack of proper radio signals. This enhancement would act as a natural interaction system which is more specific alternative and effective tool for operators with real time data at their fingertips and act as a support system to enable them make fast and accurate decisions. Implementing this software into present systems, can enable better safety through raising operator awareness under tough environment and enhance their safety, resulting in saving loss of revenue along with reduced fatality rates.Copyright © 2013 by ASME