Finland: The locomotive equipped with a computer vision system was tested on a non-public track in the Voikkaa industrial area in Kouvola. Specially for the project, Steelwheel upgraded the Otso 4 diesel locomotive, released in 1975, switching it to hybrid traction and equipping it with the necessary sensors, lidars and other components for unmanned movement.
This project has been implemented by several Finnish companies under the leadership of the Proxion engineering company since August 2018. The concept of an unmanned locomotive involves its use on the industrial tracks, in ports and cargo terminals. The ATO implementation is carried over ETCS control system.
Proxion is also involved in the development of software and dispatch control systems for transportation. The main developer of the computer vision system and sensors is VTT. In turn, Electric Power Finland is responsible for deploying the 5G network, developing track equipment, including railway crossings, and adapting it to unmanned traffic.
As mentioned above, Steelwheel carried out a complete refurbishment of the locomotive. It was equipped with two 100 kW engines that will allow the vehicle to haul a train with up to 300 t of cargo. In addition, the locomotive was equipped with batteries with a drive range of 20 km when operating at a speed of 20 km/h.
The €3.6 mln project is being funded by a number of Finnish companies, as well as the state agency for innovation and trade, Business Finland. The unmanned locomotive is expected to enter permanent service on non-public tracks in 2023. According to the forecasts of the companies participating in the project, GoA4 operation on main lines will be possible no earlier than 2035, however, the mass introduction of unmanned locomotives on non-public tracks may begin ten years earlier.
