Ow how I love the beautiful world of those who spend their entire lives in the perfect world of a computer. Probably explains why things are bad and unreliable when they come out into the real world. But yes we have debated this ad infinitum before. Let me know when it happens won’t you
Computers do repetitive jobs day in day out faultlessly. They screw up when they try to interface to humans. Most 'signalling faults' are interfacing with track circuits and points etc. fixing delicate electronics to big lumps of metal subject to stresses isnt easy.
And most computer errors are due to operator error or crap interfaces, like poorly designed screens with rubbish validation.
But a train driver does.
1. obey signals. Been doing that on Victoria Line since 1967. I am sure a system to say target distance to stop signal is easily achievable as an input into the computer
2. Obey speed restrictions - just need a way of transmitting those to the train. Ballaises do that. or a database and GPS.
3. Accelerate and brake according to conditions. That is a closed loop system comparing train speed vs wheel speed. Like they have used with doppler radar for many years. WSP is established technology. Cl91 has a 'dial target speed' facility and driver put the power on full and the train accelerates to that speed.
4. obstructions. google driverless does this. The range may be an issue. Not my area of expertise. Different technologies exist
5. check the train. Most equipment is not monitored by the train system and Alsthom have an automated system to check the exterior for problems at depots (Used on Pendolios). You could adapt station CCTV to check the train. Or use the customer facing onboard staff to do that.
6. open and close the doors. Opening is easy. You know you are in the platform, and stopped so open the doors. Checking the train before closing the doors, and checking after before setting off the CCTV could check. If we can have obstruction detection on level crossings, then we must be able to do this soon.
Do tell me what I have missed.
The big question is, is the train driven by an onboard computer, or do you have a computer in the signalling system that does this stuff and transmits simple commands to the train?