Analysis of directional antenna for railroad crossing safety applications

TL;DR

This paper investigates optimal antenna selection and design for a cost-effective, rapidly deployable railway crossing warning system, emphasizing long-distance communication and safety considerations.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical derivation of the optimal antenna pattern and evaluates array antenna feasibility for railway safety applications.

Findings

Derived the smallest practical antenna pattern for railway safety

Validated array antenna feasibility through near field measurements

Provided criteria for antenna selection based on safety and system constraints

Abstract

A rapidly deployable and cost-effective railroad crossing early warning system integrated with the railway system is attractive due to its protection of the unmanned grade crossings, which requires a warning system with long-distance communication link. In this paper, we investigate the problem of suitable antenna selection for such a railway warning system First, the antenna criteria for railroad crossing safety applications are described based on practical system considerations, the safe distances on the road and on the railway. Then, the optimal antenna pattern is derived theoretically to get the smallest size which fits for the practical installation. We also conducted a feasibility study of an array antenna through measurements on a near field scanner.