Current on-train network ( connecting panels, amplifiers, screens etc.) broadcasts messages to anyone willing to listen. However, such an architecture is impossible to make secure.
On the other hand, on-train networks have many parallels with current highly-scalable cloud based microservice systems:
Many different services
Many services of each type
Flexible architecture (think adding connecting trains together to form a new train)
High availability
Detection of failure and automatic take over (respawning of service on other physical device…)
But also some differences:
Physical location of each service (e.g. amplifier) matters
Each unit can operate on its own or connected to another unit (multiple possible brains, only 1 needs to be active)
This thesis will explore the possibility of using the communication networks used in scalable microservice systems as a on-train communication architecture. The thesis student will develop a communication architecture that allows the required flexibility and security necessary for trains. Finally, he will build a proof-of-concept network demonstrating his architecture.
Apply now