By using this site, you agree with our cookies usage in accordance with our cookies policy. You can always disable cookies in your browser settings.

6+

6+

Siemens Mobility is testing the computer vision system on trams in Budapest

2 December 2021
Reading time ~ 3 min
Trials of Combino tram equipped with Siemens Mobility’s technical vision system
Trials of Combino tram equipped with Siemens Mobility’s technical vision system, autumn 2021. Source: iho.hu
Belov Sergey, Editor-in-Chief, ROLLINGSTOCK Agency
Reading time ~ 3 min
Litvintsova Olga, Editor of International Projects, ROLLINGSTOCK Agency

Hungary: The project was presented jointly by the German manufacturer and Budapest transport company (BKV) early of November. Currently, the computer vision is the part of the Siemens Tram Assistant (STA).

The tests are being carried out on a Combino tram, which Siemens Mobility was delivering into the city against a contract, signed in 2003 (40 6-car trams were ordered). It is noted that STA sensors help to recognize pedestrians, cars and other vehicles by comparing their trajectory and speed with a tram. Now the data is being collected, in order to tune up system configuration. The work is carried out by the Siemens Mobility research branch in Budapest.

Siemens Tram Assistant hardware. Source: ihu.hu

Computer vision is one of the main elements of the rolling stock automation to the highest “unmanned” GoA4 level. Siemens Mobility has been working in this direction for several years: the project for the development of an unmanned tram was presented in 2018, and the work of a prototype without a driver has been demonstrated in August this year at the Potsdam depot. Siemens Mobility expects that the fully self-driving tram technology will have been ready for commercial use by 2026.

Development of unmanned trams is also going on in Russia. As the president of the Russian manufacturer PK Transport Systems (PK TS) Felix Vinokur reported, the first tests of the Vityaz-M tram without a driver took place in August 2018 in St. Petersburg. In 2019, it was announced that the technology developed by by the Russian Cognitive Technologies will be tested in Moscow on PK TS’ trams. As Olga Uskova, President of Cognitive Technologies, noted in an interview with the Railway Equipment Journal, the company is also working on an unmanned tram in China.

Also in October this year, the Deputy Mayor of Moscow Maxim Liksutov has announced that the city is implementing a joint project of an unmanned tram with the Russian IT-giant Yandex, the vehicle is currently being prepared for the installation of a special equipment. According to Liksutov’s evaluations, unmanned trams can enter commercial operation within 10 years. It is worth noting that a special technical requirement for rolling stock readiness for unmanned equipment installation was laid down in Moscow tenders for 204 trams supply in 2020. In turn, Felix Vinokur stated in November that at the moment Russia is still legislatively far from the introduction of trams with the GoA4 automation level.