Jun 17, 2026
LCX4Rail at the WIR! closing meeting at the Smart Rail Connectivity Campus (SRCC)
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Oliver Michler and Cornelia Lobermeier
On the occasion of the conclusion of the “WIR! – Change Through Innovation in the Region” funding program of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space a networking event took place on June 20, 2026, at the Smart Rail Connectivity Campus (SRCC) in Annaberg-Buchholz. As part of the event, the ITVS Chair, together with project partners from Chemnitz University of Technology, ibes AG, and MRK Media AG, presented the results of the successfully completed research project LCX4Rail
In a highlight presentation, the project’s innovative approaches—based on the use of leaky coaxial cables (LCX) laid along the rail infrastructure—were presented. The goal of LCX4Rail was to develop a multifunctional infrastructure that combines broadband wireless coverage, radio-based vehicle tracking, and radar-like obstacle detection (sensing) along rail lines into a single integrated system.
The ITVS’s work focused in particular on the development and analysis of positioning methods and methods for passive object detection, including those based on ultra-wideband (UWB) radio technology. Together with the project partners, a demonstrator was developed for this purpose that clearly illustrates the potential of radio positioning using LCX. Participants at the closing event were able to view the demonstrator on site and experience it in live operation.
The presentation of the project results highlighted the potential of innovative wireless and sensor technologies based on LCX for the digitization and automation of rail transport. The expertise developed and the partnerships established with regional partners during the LCX4Rail project lay an important foundation for future research activities.
