PRODUCTS
HUMAN FACTORS
Ergonomic Evaluation
Rail SafeTM
Meeting the physical requirements of transportation operators
is a prerequisite for optimal job performance. When operator
ergonomics are compromised, so is the safety and efficiency of
transportation operations. QNA uses a suite of ergonomic tools
and analyses to evaluate transportation ergonomics. Our work
encompasses the assessment of whole body vibration, 3-D kinematic
analysis of an operator in the workspace and anthropometric data
collection using non-contact 3-D body scanning.
Rail Safe is an affordable, reusable, shock-energy-absorption solution
with the ability to mitigate a vast amount of crash energy in the event
of rail collision. Available as a low-cost retrofit, our novel design
employs a solid plastic material that transitions to a viscous fluid state
when crash forces exceed a compressive stress threshold. The system
offers high-energy absorption with excellent damping. Prototype
impact tests successfully demonstrated its potential application to
railroad rolling stock draft gears and side buffers.
Solving Today’s
Transportation
Challenges with
Tomorrow’s Technology
Applied Cognitive Science
Transportation operators (motorists, pilots, locomotive engineers)
are limited in how much information they can process, particularly
under intense workload conditions or when fatigued. QNA
is developing an attention trainer using the operator’s own
brainwaves (neurofeedback) that will condition them to sustain
their attention under varying workload levels. Our work in applied
cognitive science also includes the development and evaluation
of fatigue models to optimize transportation work schedules. Our
capabilities include state-of-the-art physiological and psychological
assessments of workload, stress and fatigue.
Intelligent Rail Integrity System (IRIS™)
GIS-Based Web-Accessible
User Interface
Internet
Configuration/
Status Unit (CSU)
Organizational Development and Training
Collector Units (CU)
Located Wayside
Sensor Unit (SU)
Internet
IRIS, a remote rail monitoring solution for continuous welded rail (CWR), is a network of remote
sensors that monitors track integrity with the following primary functions:
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QNA has a long history of examining workforce development
challenges for the railroad industry. Our work has been seminal
in identifying some of the hardest challenges for recruitment and
retention including best practices and strategies for overcoming
organizational obstacles. QNA has a solid repertoire of
developing training programs including those for preparing
emergency responders in the event of a train crash. QNA
conducted in-depth experiments that identified the most efficient
manner to extricate victims from a locomotive cab.
Continuous monitoring of rail temperature and rail neutral temperature (RNT)
Emergency notification of broken or buckled rail
Rail Temperature Alerts when rail temperature exceeds preset thresholds
Thermal Load Alert when difference between rail temperature and RNT exceeds preset thresholds
Web-accessible data management capability with graphical output of the sensors as well as other safety
and maintenance applications
FOR MORE INFORMATION
QinetiQ North America
350 Second Avenue
Waltham, MA 02451
Tel: (781) 684-4000
contactus@qinetiq-na.com
©QinetiQ North America
13-12-371
www.QinetiQ-NA.com
Solving Today’s Transportation Challenges with Tomorrow’s Technology
The global community relies on transportation
now more than ever to sustain the economy
and enhance mobility. QinetiQ North America
(QNA) is a leader in the transportation industry
with a solid record of innovative and practical
approaches that address today’s challenges with
the technology of tomorrow. Our experience
and capabilities position us to take on the 21st
century challenges facing the industry.
TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION
Diesel Fuel Vapor Reclamation
QNA is developing a diesel fuel vapor reclamation
system to reduce the explosive fuel vapor in fuel tanks
as well as environmental pollution. The system is
adaptable to most locomotive fuel tanks and will reduce
the risk of fire in accidents and improve fuel efficiency as
condensed fuel vapor is returned to the tank.
Acoustical Warning Device
QNA is developing an Acoustical Warning Device that directs train
horn signals towards the critical stopping distance for vehicles at
grade crossings. The reduced sounds to wayside and within the
cab results in a more environmentally friendly train horn that
meets or exceeds all Federal Railroad Administration regulations.
TECHNOLOGY EVALUATION
Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS)
Locomotive Crashworthiness
One of the most significant government and
automotive industry partnerships, DADSS, is a tenyear cooperative research agreement (CRA) between
the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA)
and the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety (ACTS).
The goal is to develop non-invasive, in-vehicle alcohol
detection technologies that will quickly, accurately, and
reliably measure a driver’s blood alcohol concentration
to prevent alcohol-impaired driving.
QNA developed detailed dynamic structural finite
element models of locomotives and freight cars
and ISO-type shipping containers to evaluate
their behavior in various collision scenarios. QNA
is developing approaches for strengthening and
improving key areas of locomotives, such as the
front-end structures and the cab.
QNA was selected by NHTSA/ACTS as the program
and technical manager of the CRA to support the
technology providers in their development effort,
provide technical guidance and objectively evaluate all
technologies.
Traffic Camera Evaluation
QNA’s innovative SmartPark system, developed as part of a Federal Motor
Carrier Safety Administration program evaluating potential technologies to
monitor truck parking, used an image processing system (Autoscope) to monitor
real-time truck parking activity. QNA installed and tested the system at the
Charlton Service Center on the Massachusetts Turnpike. QNA performed an
independent evaluation of a traffic light violation detection and enforcement
system for the Saudi Arabia Traffic Directorate. The evaluation included
establishing detection accuracy of traffic violations.
User-Centered Workspace Design and Evaluation
Wireless Sensor Motes
QNA is developing wireless sensor motes for train consists.
Motes are low power sensors that communicate into the
train’s wireless mesh network. Motes can be used for train
health and lading monitoring. Wheel bearing condition
motes are also in development.
STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS AND MODELING
QNA uses its full arsenal of human factors and ergonomics
capabilities to inform the design of workspaces for
transportation operators. We employ sophisticated
eye tracking equipment to determine optimal layout
of information displays; kinematic and anthropometric
analysis for the physical layout of the workspace; and
advanced cognitive assessments to ensure the design of
the workspace does not exceed the information processing
limitations of the operator.
Locomotive Fuel Tank
Structural Safety
Damage to fuel tanks and their associated
systems can lead to fuel leaks and fire,
one of the most dangerous situations for
train crews and passengers, as well as
environmental pollution. QNA designed
and built a specialized full-scale test facility
and conducted tests of fuel tank structural
crashworthiness. Assessments included the
testing of freight and passenger locomotive
fuel tanks for their ability to withstand
quasi-static load as specified by the Code of
Federal Regulations.
Analysis and Modeling
QNA has the capability to carry out detailed
structural modeling and analysis of transportation
systems including railroad equipment using ANSYS
and LS-DYNA. Following past finite element analysis
simulation and validation testing of freight consist
crashworthiness, QNA has modeled rail tank cars
including draft gears fitted with QNA’s Rail Safe to
evaluate the likelihood of tank car end-puncture, as
well as its overall structural integrity for different
collision velocities.