Current Affairs

UPSC KAVACH: AUTOMATIC TRAIN PROTECTION SYSTEM - English

KAVACH: AUTOMATIC TRAIN PROTECTION SYSTEM

Why in News?

Recently, the Indian Railways tested 'Kavach'-Automatic Train Protection System by making two trains move towards each other at full speed.

Kavach

• It is India’s own automatic protection system, which is in development since 2012, under the name Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), which got rechristened Kavach or “armour”.
• It is a set of electronic devices and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) devices installed in locomotives, in the signalling system as well as the tracks.
• They connect to each other using ultra high radio frequencies to control the brakes of trains and also alert drivers, all based on the logic programmed into them.
• TCAS or Kavach includes the key elements from already existing, and tried and tested systems like the European Train Protection and Warning System, and the indigenous Anti Collision Device.
• It will also carry features of the high-tech European Train Control System Level-2 in future.
• The current form of Kavach adheres to the highest level of safety and reliability standard called Safety Integrity Level (SIL)4.
• SIL comes from two voluntary standards used by plant owners/operators to quantify safety performance requirements for hazardous operations.
• There are four SIL Levels (1-4). A higher SIL Level means a greater process hazard and a higher level of protection required.
• While now Kavach uses Ultra High Frequency, work is on to make it compatible with 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology and make the product for global markets.

BANK ACHIEVERS Achievers