The Card reader unit was designed specifically to act as a driver key for underground locomotives. The reader is a passive RFID reader based on the 13.5Mhz Mifare 4k passive smart card.

The use of the Card Reader is not limited to locomotive controller applications it can be implemented as an access control system or a licensing system for other types of vehicles. Requirements can be discussed with Battery Electric. This document will cover the system only with regards to underground locomotive use.

The Mifare card is activated as a license card for a specific locomotive or a group of locomotives. The license information is stored on the Mifare card and not on the reader unit, thus enabling the user to setup a card on surface using a computer program. The card reader unit is setup only once upon installation of the unit, the reader unit id’s can be changed at a later stage if needed. This concept ensures that there is no need to set a list of valid keys on every locomotive which is a time consuming process.