A Study on Optical Wireless Train Communication System using Mobile Object Tracking Technique

Masato Hiruta, Masao Nakagawa, Shinichiro Haruyama and Shoichi Ishikawa School of Science for Open and Environmental Systems, Keio University, Japan {hiruta, nakagawa, haruyama, ishikawa}@nkgw.ics.keio.ac.jp

Abstract In this paper, we propose a new ground-to-train communication system using mobile object tracking technique thinking that can realize enough transmission speed on the moving train. Based on the field experiments, we report our proposed systems effectiveness as the new high-speed ground-to-train communication system. We also propose the tracking control algorithm of beacon light using the wide-angle lens and the telephoto lens. This algorithm is used for mobile objects position acquisition in the proposed system. The wide-angle lens is used for acquiring the beacon light, and the telephoto lens is used for tracking the beacon light. Keywords Optical Wireless Communication, Train Communication, Two-way Communication, Mobile Object Tracking, Quadrant Detector.

2. Ground-to-train communication system using mobile object tracking technique

As previously noted, current ground-to-train communication systems has problem about transmission speed. In this paper, we propose the optical wireless train communication system using mobile object tracking technique thinking that can realize enough transmission speed and stable the two-way communication. Figure 1. shows the system model of our proposed system.

1. Introduction
In recent years, for the realization of the ubiquitous society, the demand of the information infrastructure development has been increasing and is no exception in the environment of the moving train. LCX (Leakly CoaXial cable) and millimeter-wave have been used for wireless communication between ground and a train. However, considering the current ground-to-train communication systems, these are not enough in point of transmission speed and cannot meet diverse needs of broadband users [1] [2]. On the other hand, the free-space optical (FSO) communication system that uses the devices such as Laser Diode (LD) and Light Emitting Diode (LED) are being developed rapidly, and it is thought to be possible to achieve high-speed communication with these equipments. Since the frequency of light wave is so high, FSO communication system is suit high-speed communication and for thats limited communication area, it is also superior in terms of the security and the tolerance of interferences. Having these advantages, optical wireless communication has been studied actively in these days.

Figure 1. System model of our proposed system

The mobile object tracking technique proposed in this paper is the method that allows the two-way communication by using two moving mirrors each for the horizontal direction control and for the vertical direction control, respectively. Using this two moving mirrors and controlling transmitter LD beam that is radiated from the other side, we can always establish the two-way link between a train and ground (that connects the backbone network). Figure 2. shows the detailed configuration of the transmitting and receiving devices.

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Figure 2. Configuration of the transmitting and receiving devices

The detailed method to establish the link is as below. LD beam is radiated from the ground sides communication device to the train sides one and as the beam is reached at the train side, the beam is received in the center of the receiving part of the train sides device by the accurately-controlled two moving mirrors and the link is established. As the control signal for the link establishment, we use the beacon LED light. When the beacon LED light radiated from the ground side is acquired at the train sides device, LD beam that is for high-speed data communication and is radiated parallel to the beacon LED light is also reached at the device and the link by LD beam is established. About the control technique of beacon LED light, we also propose the method using wide-angle lens and telephoto lens. This method is hereinafter described in detail. Once the ground sides LD beam is reached at the receiving part, we can always track the ground sides LD beam and establish the link continuously because we do the feedback processing to control the beacon LED light accurately in order to reach it at the center of the receiving part. In a similar way, in the case of from the train side to the ground side, we do establish the link at the same time. Thus, by setting up much the same communication systems at the both train and ground sides, we can realize the two-way communication environment. Our proposed systems transmission speed is assumed 1Gbps per 1 train and compared with the conventional methods, which transmission speed is so high that we can set a goal of making comfortable communication environment where for instance, people use the Internet and download movies as you like on the train such as Shinkansen bullet train. In this paper,

we design the communication device under the premises of this high-transmission speed. Moreover, the handling area per one base station is assumed approximately from 20m to 300m and such long handling area contributes to the reduction in the number of base stations and the decreasing costs. This point is also one of the advantages compared with the conventional methods.

3. Preliminary experiments
In this chapter, we conduct preliminary experiments about transceiving equipment and about the Quadrant Detector (QD) and investigate these performance boundaries. First, we analyze the optimum value of the diameter of the lens for data receiving to achieve the long-distance communication. Next, we analyze the performance of the QD that is used as the sensor of the beacon LED light.

3.1 Performance check of transceivng equipment

In our proposed system, the transceiving two rays enter the surface of one scanning mirror and the mirror needs to be reduced in size and weight to track the train moving at high speed. The LD transceiving equipment used in our system is 10cm in diameter of lens for receiver initially, but such a big diameter doesnt meet our demand in size and needs to be miniaturized as much as possible.

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In this preliminary experiment, we investigate how much the diameter of lens for receiver can be miniaturized. Figure 3. shows this experiments overview. Table 1. shows this experimental data. A pair of LD transceiving equipments is set 500m away from each other and performs the two-way communication. Next, the diameter of lens is narrowed gradually in centimeters and measured the throughput of the two-way communication at each diameters. From this experiment, we can see how much the diameter can be narrowed and reduced in size and weight.

3.2 Performance check of Quadrant Detector (QD)

The QD is the optical receiving sensor that is divided in quarters and used for a trains position acquisition. In this system, the QD outputs the voltage values independently from divided each area in response to the incident light and we can control the output values from four areas independently. Consequently, the QD is used as high-sensitive and weak optical signal detectable sensor. In this preliminary experiment, we investigate the optical receiving sensitivity characteristics of the QD. We set the wide-angle lens or the telephoto lens in front of the QD and use the 24 LEDs array as the transmitter and measure the output of the QD at the 10m mark to 110m mark by ten-meter intervals. From this experiment, we can see the optical receiving performance of the QD and speculate how much power we need as beacon light. Figure 5. shows this experiments overview. Table 2. shows this experimental data.

Figure 3. Experimental overview

Table 1. Experimental Data Transmission power of LD Wavelength of LD Eye Safety Class of LD Diameter of receivable lens Weather 15 [mW] 785[nm] Class 1M 1-10[cm] Fine Figure 5. Experimental Overview

Figure 4. show the experimental result. From the result, it can be seen that the diameter of lens needs to be set more than 3cm to achieve enough throughput. Moreover, considering the restriction of optical systems size and the reduction of optical power by the beam splitter, we set 4cm as the diameter having a margin.

Table 2. Experimental Data Optical power of one LED Frequency of LED Number of LEDs Receive area of 4-ary APD Focal length of a wide-angle lens Focal length of a telephoto lens 113 [mW] 2.4[kHz] 24 0.68 [mm2] 28[mm] 300[mm] 10-110[m] Fine

200 Throughput(Mbps)

Distance between and receiver Weather

transmitter

100

0 5 3 Diameter of receivable lens(cm)

Figure 4. Throughput characteristic

10

Figure 6. shows the experimental result. This result compares the case of setting the telephoto lens to the case of setting the wide-angle lens. The red line (at the -53.5dBm) in the Figure 6. is the receivable boundary of the QD in our system. From the experimental result, in the case of setting the telephoto lens, we can receive the beacon LED light more than 120m, but in the case of setting the wide-angle lens, we can receive the beacon LED light only 100m. Therefore, when we communicate to the distance of approximately 300m, we need the optical power with 10 times compared with the power used in this experiment to receive enough power as beacon light. To radiate such powerful source of light, for instance, we can think of the way setting more number of more powerful LED or setting the lens to radiate the light effectively.

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with telephoto lens with wideangle lens

5. Tracking control algorithm using the wide-angle lens and the telephoto lens
In this paper, we also propose the control technique of the beacon light using the wide-angle lens and the telephoto lens. This technique is used for mobile objects position acquiring in the proposed system. The proposed control mechanism is as below. This mechanism is the control technique in order to acquire the radiated beacon LED light from the other side surely and accurately that we cannot know where comes from. First, we execute the beacon LED light acquiring widely using wide-angle lens and the QD which is the sensor set behind the lens. When the beacon light from the other side is acquired at the QD of the wide-angle lens side, we control the moving mirror using feedback circuit based on the received beacon light information to make the beacon light hit to the center of the sensor constantly. And at some point in the process of approaching the beacon light to the center, we can acquire the beacon light in the telephoto lens that has very narrow viewing angle and acquire the objects with a very high degree of accuracy. From that point, the control phase switches with the telephoto lens and the QD set behind the lens. By the accurate and exact control using telephoto lens, the beacon light is always aimed at the center of the receiving part on the device and by executing this series of control mechanism on the both ground and train sides, we can realize the two-way communication continuously. Figure 8. shows the flowchart of this proposed control algorithm. Figure 9. shows the image of comparing the optical power of the beacon LED light. Figure 10. shows the image of the beacon LED acquiring using the wide-angle lens and the telephoto lens.

Received optical power(dBm)

30

40

50 53.5 0 50 100

Distance between transmitter and receiver(m)

Figure 6. The comparison of the experimental results

4. Manufacturing of communication system

Based on the preliminary experimental results at chapter.3, in this chapter, we design and manufacture the communication system that realize the proposed system and is for use in field experiments in chapter 6. Figure 7. shows the photo of manufactured communication device. Designed communication systems features are as below. Laser device : LD transmitting and receiving at 785nm Wide-angle lens : f=12mm Telephoto lens : f=80mm-400mm (variable lens) Beacon LEDs to acquire a trains position : 192 LEDs array2 panels (LEDs brightness, number and modulation frequency is all variable)

Figure 8. Flowchart of proposed algorithm

Figure 7. Photo of manufactured Communication device

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Vertical Comparing

Horizontal Comparing

Figure 9. Comparing image

The tracking performance confirmatory experiment is conducted in the field that has the 1500m straight course. In this field, we can demonstrate the stable and continuous tracking performance in the long-distance. In our proposed system, first, we catch the other sides position accurately by using beacon LED light and laser communication devices LD light, which need to be radiated parallel to the beacon LED light is aimed to the other side, so we can establish the two-way link. In this field experiment, we demonstrate only about the position acquiring by beacon LED light, and the two-way communication is realized when both the stable tracking by beacon LED and the data communication by the parallel LD light is achieved at the same time. The two-way communication performance confirmatory experiment is conducted in the field that has the 150m straight course. In this experiment, we confirm the throughput characteristics during the two-way communication.

6.1 Experimental methodology

In these field experiments, we set the almost similar configuration of the communication system at both the train side and the ground side. As the train sides communication system, we set the communication devices on the car instead of on the train. Figure 11. shows the experiment condition.

Figure 10. Acquiring image using wide-angle lens and telephoto lens

The QD is divided in quarters and we can get the received information from each of the four areas and we do feedback control to the scanning mirror based on the information of the QD in order that the each area of sensor can receive the power of the incident light equally. That is, each of the four areas of the sensor receives equal power and can adjust the incident light into the center of the QD. And as we said previously, the beacon light can be designed to the parallel to the LD beam radiated from the communication device. So, if the beacon light is aimed at the other sides sensor accurately, its parallel light, LD beam can be aimed at the sensor similarly and we can establish the link.

Figure 11. Field experiment

6.2 Experimental results

In the field of 1500m straight course, we have confirmed the continuously accurate tracking from 10m to 1350m at a cars speed of 80 kilometers per hour. In our proposed system, as we assume that the handling area per one base station is maximum 300m , tracking to the 1350m is enough distance. Next, we have confirmed the two-way communication performance in the field of 150m straight course. Table 3. shows the experimental result about throughput characteristics. We have measured the throughput characteristics at the 20m mark, 50m mark, 100m mark and 150m mark. In these field experiments, as maximum throughput (depending on the PCs

6. Field experiment
In this chapter, we conduct field experiments using communication system manufactured in chapter 4. Through these field experiments, we confirm the tracking performance and the communication performance by our proposed system.

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performance boundary) is approximately 400Mbps, we can say that enough throughput is achieved at the each marks. Moreover, we have observed the receiving condition that has been shown in the LD laser communicaiton device and we could know rough information whether the two-way communication was established or not. Table 4. shows experimental results about the receiving condition.
Table 3. Experimental result (about throughput characteristics) Distance between ground and mobile object [m] 20 50 100 150 Throughput [Mbps] 359 374 343 342

REFERENCES
[1] Jun Hong Wang and Mei, K.K, ``Theory and analysis of leakly coaxial cables with periodic slots'', Antennas and Propagation, IEEE Transactions on, Vol.49, No.12, pp.173-1732, 2001 [2] H. Nikura, Y. Akiyama and D. Adachi ``Train radio system with millimeter wave used for the Yamanashi maglev test line'', RTRI Report, Vol. 15, No.11, 2001 [3] T. Komine and M. Nakagawa, ``Integrated system of white LED visible-light communication and power-line communication'', Consumer Electronics, IEEE Transactions on, Vol.49, No.1, pp.71-99, 2003 [4] Y. Tanaka, T. Komine, S. Haruyama and M. Nakagawa, ``Indoor visible communication utilizing plural white LEDs as lighting'', Personal, Indoor and Mobile Radio Communication, Vol.2, pp.F-81-F-85, 2001 [5] Born and Wolf, ``Principles of Optics : Electromagnetic Theory of Propagation, Interference and Fiffraction of Light,(7th Ed)'', Cambridge Univ. Press, 1999. [6] H. Kotake, T. Matsuzawa, A. Shimura, S. Haruyama and M. Nakagawa, ``A new ground-to-train communication system using free-space optics technology'', Computers in Railways 2006(COMPRAIL 2006), pp.683-692, 2006. [7] J.M. Kahn, J.R. Barry, ``Wireless infrared communications'', Proc, IEEE Vol. 85, No. 2 , pp. 265-298, 1997

Table 4. Experimental result (about communication state) Distance between ground and mobile object From 20m to 50m From 50m to 100m From 100m to 150m Communication state Very stable communication at any time Stable communication to the smooth motion Basically stable communication (sensitive to the libration)

From the experimental results, we have confirmed the accurate tracking performance at the long-distance and the stable two-way communication at the moving state from 20m to 150m by observing enough throughput characteristics.

7. Conclusion
In this paper, we have started our investigation on the components that composed our proposed system. Based on the results of the preliminary experiments, we have designed and manufactured the communication system. Next, we have conducted field experiments using this communication system and the performance was examined. In these experiments, we have confirmed that accurate tracking control over very long-distance maximum 1350m could be done and from 20m to 150m (distance between the moving train side and the ground side), we could demonstrate the two-way communication at the enough transmission speed. These experimental results show the feasibility of the two-way communication between the moving-train and the ground continuously. From these results, we conclude that our proposed system has the possibility as the two-way communication system at enough transmission speed between the train and the ground.

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