Artesyn Embedded Technologies introduces ControlSafe, a SIL4-compliant secure computer platform for in-vehicle applications

     Artesyn Embedded Technologies has introduced the ControlSafeTM Carborne Platform. This is the latest in the company's line of SIL4-certified COTS-ready ControlSafe computing platforms. In addition to on-board equipment such as the Automatic Train Protection System (ATP), Automatic Train Driving System (ATO) and Automatic Train Control System (PTC), the new platform is also suitable for railside train control and signaling systems. The ControlSafeTM vehicle system platform follows the security system architecture and related technologies of ATsen's ControlSafe security platform and ControlSafe extension platform. This is a highly integrated and cost-effective solution for railway signalling system integrators and railway signalling equipment suppliers. The first two ControlSafe platform products have received SIL4 certification, and the ControlSafe in-vehicle system platform is expected to receive this certification in the third quarter of 2017.

     The ControlSafeTM vehicle system platform is installed in a standard 4U chassis with built-in DC power supply and input/output ports located directly in the front of the chassis, which can support up to 12 input/output modules and can support a variety of different types of input/output. The in-car system platform follows the existing data synchronization architecture of Atsun's other ControlSafe computing platforms, an innovative architecture that allows customers to seamlessly connect to the next generation of technology when they upgrade their systems in the future. In addition, the platform uses a hardware-executed voting mechanism to ensure the application is extremely transparent. The ControlSafeTM on-board system platform complies with industry regulations on operational safety, reliability and availability of railway electronic systems and is therefore most suitable for safety and protection systems on trains. By using this platform to develop in-vehicle safety control devices, ATsen's customers can significantly reduce the time and cost required to develop products and apply for certification, thus significantly reducing the investment risk.

     Qianqian Shao, Marketing Manager of Atsen Technology, said: "One of our customers who adopted the ControlSafe security platform has saved their company millions of dollars in costs and many years of development time, according to their analysis. The benefits of sharing the same security architecture are that users can easily migrate applications between systems, and the common platform is easier to configure. In addition, the platform's innovative data synchronization architecture and voting mechanism through hardware enable it to support the next generation of high-performance processors, and its modular design provides a high degree of flexibility, making the platform seamless with future technologies, such as supporting more input/output interfaces and the next generation of processor architectures. To ensure that the platform is continuously updated throughout its life cycle."

     By design, the ControlSafe in-vehicle system platform is a basic general-purpose platform that can be integrated with Atsen's input/Output Unit (IOU) modules to support many different applications. In addition, ATsen Technology also provides customers with the necessary specifications, product support and services, so that customers can flexibly develop input/output unit modules according to their special needs, and select specific input/output floor interfaces to meet their special needs.