Phileas, a safety critical trip around the world

Abstract

Phileas, developed by Advanced Public Transportation Systems (APTS) is a new concept for comfortable high frequency passenger mass transport. Its unique safety requirements impose a serious challenge for the development of a safe electronic guidance system. In particular, the standard systems engineering methodologies applied need to be tailored in order to comply with the CENELEC railway standards EN50126, EN50128 and EN50129. From formal and traceable requirements capture to the rigorous verification and validation processes, the integrated development approach must provide not only a functional system in compliance with all stakeholder needs, but also evidence of quality and safety management in all phases of the life cycle. Once certification for Phileas is achieved, the chances for APTS to become an important player in the development of safe next generation vehicle intelligence are significantly increased. © Springer-Verlag London Limited 2010.