Training in computer science

When Benjamin Powley first played with a train set as a small boy, he could never have imagined he’d be using a similar set to complete a university Honour’s project.

Benjamin, who is currently studying a Bachelor of Science with Honours (having already completed a double major Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Mathematics), is one of the first to test out a new model railway purchased by the School of Engineering and Computer Science for student projects. He is using it to develop safety-critical control software that simulates a real-world, automated train network (such as the Paris Metro’s ‘Line 14’).

“I have to manage the scheduling of multiple locomotives, and safely route them through a network of tracks using the Java Model Rail Interface (JMRI),” Benjamin explains. “The safety challenges involve ensuring that no two trains are in the same section at the same time, and that all points are correctly set to ‘open’ or ‘closed’ each time a train enters a new section.”

As part of the project, Benjamin must programme both a handheld controller and a simulator—reflecting the real-life situation for software engineers who must always test their programmes before implementing them. “The handheld controller is a bit different to what you’d find on your average train set—this one has a special interface so that I can plug in my own programme and send instructions to the trains,” Benjamin says. These messages are sent across a voltage line to sensors on the track, which communicate with chips attached to each train.

At the end of the year, Benjamin will evaluate his work and formally present the results with a written report and a series of test runs. “I need to demonstrate a range of complicated scheduling, so I’ll put increasing stress on the network by adding more trains to run simultaneously,” he says. Benjamin will also use his maths background to build mathematical models for the controller to prove that the properties in the programme are correct and safe.

In addition to the project work, Benjamin says he is also improving his ‘soft’ skills such as time management and how to work as part of a team. “My two supervisors and I meet every week to talk things through and bounce ideas off each other. Their feedback is always incredibly useful.”

The idea to use the model railway as the basis for a project came from one of Benjamin’s supervisors, Dr David Pearce, a senior lecturer in the School of Engineering and Computer Science. “Where possible, I like to set projects that have some kind of real-world application, because students are more likely to relate to, and engage with, them.”

David says that the need for safety-critical software will become increasingly important with the rise of the ‘internet of things’. “More and more devices in the home will be built with wifi capability, making them potentially vulnerable to cyber attacks and hacking—unless they feature safety-critical software.”

David says that Victoria has the edge over other universities teaching the same subjects. “We have our own electronics workshop and technicians, which means we’ve got the facilities and skills to carry out any hardware projects or modifications right here on campus.”