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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.

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