In the recent Community and European strategies, modal shift towards green and smart transport systems, such as railroad, is a fundamental presupposition and great emphasis is given to the introduction of innovative components capable to achieve a technological renewal of the systems currently in use.

In general, rail transport systems are characterized by high structural complexity and functional components which must always ensure the best performance, ensuring high standards of safety and reliability. This results in a continued push to the introduction of modern technologies that can enhance and increase the efficiency and safety of these systems.

In this scenario the "NEMBO" project aims the study of embedded systems with high performance and reliability to meet the trend of technological renewal required in the railway transport field.

The project aims to study and develop a modernization and strengthening process of regional rail networks, increasing the safety level and transport capacity, taking advantage of new tracking and telecommunications satellite technologies and their integration with terrestrial ones, both traditional and innovative. In particular, these technological innovations will encourage the development of rail systems, as part of the regional transport, reducing the cost of operation and maintenance, as well as the cost of initial investment to build new lines and / or enhance existing ones.

The above-mentioned objectives will be pursued through the minimization (as a reduction) in installations along the line, concentrating the installation of innovative technological equipment on board of railway vehicles.

The project also aims to analyze and implement a virtualization process (as a replacement of physical components with equivalent virtual components) which, ensuring functional equivalence of the traditionally used components for railway signaling, has the additional benefit of allowing a technological upgrading and a possible enhancement of apparatus performance.