Selected issues of automation of rail vehicles operation

Abstract

This article presents a synthesis of the assessment opportunities for implementing the automation of rail vehicles in Poland. The evaluation was to identify the threats to the automation of the above-mentioned vehicles and then assign to them the effects and probabilities of occurrence. A review of selected scientific, technical, formal, and legal sources was carried out for probability estimation. Definitions of Grades of Automation (GoA) were given, assigning technical and safety functionalities to them. The functional classification has been made concerning traffic safety. The problem of passengers' and drivers' social feelings towards introducing automatic vehicles has been pointed out. A formal and legal analysis of the possibility of implementing automatic rail vehicle traffic in Poland was also carried out.