Project Abstract

A virtual reality game for controlling the university’s model railway. The European Train Control System (ETCS) is a form of train signalling designed to replace older designs of fixed block signalling that is currently used across most of Europe using physical line side signals. ETCS allows for in-cab signalling removing the need for physical signals and is a component of the European Railway Train Management System (ERTMS). The university has developed some software for simulating ERTMS on a model railway which demonstrates how ERTMS works and how it prevents trains from colliding. They currently have two methods for controlling the model railway. The first is a web interface where the user can see a track plan and direct where trains should head, the second is a physical controller that gets assigned to an individual train on the model railway and provides the user with simple left/right controls for setting the points ahead for the train. This project aims to add a third control method in the form of a virtual reality (VR) frontend. It will provide the user with an additional perspective for controlling a train on the model railway by putting the user in the cab of a train. Replicating the exact state of the model railway in a virtual world.

Keywords: Unreal Engine, Virtual Reality, Model Railway

 Conference Details

Session: Poster Session A at Poster Stand 1

Location: Sir Stanley Clarke Auditorium at Tuesday 7th 13:30 – 17:00

Markers: Liam O’reilly, Daniele Cafolla

Course: BSc Software Engineering, 3rd Year

Future Plans: I have a job lined-up