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Press Release12 July 2024Siemens MobilityMunich
Innovative obstacle detection system is being tested for the first time on the Berlin S-Bahn
Innovative obstacle detection system is being tested for the first time on the Berlin S-Bahn
The project’s goal is to thoroughly evaluate the
performance of the new obstacle detection system during daily operation in
various weather and route conditions. The test data will be used to further
refine the system and optimize the positioning of the detection sensors. The
system will record background data for the duration of the project, and neither
the train drivers nor the passengers will notice its operation. In the future,
the obstacle detection system can help drivers avoid accidents, which will
stabilize daily S-Bahn operations and increase punctuality. The system promises
to be a key technology for enabling digitalized, fully automated rail operations
in the future.
Albrecht Neumann,
CEO Rolling Stock at Siemens Mobility: “Intelligent trains that relieve their drivers of routine tasks and
support them in their work are the future of digitalized rail transport. These
trains will be able to automatically set themselves up and shut down, ensure
energy-optimized operation, react quickly and safely to obstacles on the track,
and shunt fully automatically on the depot grounds. We look forward to working
with our partners to qualify our innovative obstacle detection technology for
practical application in Germany’s largest S-Bahn network.”
Peter Buchner, CEO
S-Bahn Berlin GmbH: “For 100
years, the Berlin S-Bahn has stood for innovation and progress. We are partnering
with industry to test new technologies that support environmentally friendly
rail transportation. Automatic obstacle detection will be an indispensable
component for automated driving in the future. It is already capable of
supporting our drivers and contributing to better operational quality.”
Martin
Fuchs, CEO Verkehrsverbund Berlin Brandenburg (VBB): “The states of Berlin and
Brandenburg and the Berlin-Brandenburg public transport authority (VBB) support innovation
and the groundwork needed to make S-Bahn operations more efficient and
effective. This automatic obstacle detection project will generate valuable
findings and enable us to further develop the S-Bahn system. Exactly 100 years
after the S-Bahn was first electrified, we are preparing yet another
technological leap that will make Berlin’s S-Bahn system fit for the future.”
Testing of the technology will be carried out in a
partnership between Siemens Mobility GmbH (installation supervision, sensors,
hardware, software and digital map), S-Bahn Berlin GmbH (trains, installation,
operation), and Digitale Schiene Deutschland/DB InfraGo (digital mapping, open
data platform). Results of the tests will be evaluated together with the VBB.
On the technical side, the sensors used in the
project will include high-performance LiDARs for close- and long-range object detection
and an infrared camera. The algorithms for evaluating the sensor data have been
specially developed for the rail sector in the "Berlin Digital Rail
Operations - BerDiBa" research project by Siemens in Berlin-Adlershof and
have already been optimised several times. The system continually compares the
position of a train with the location of detected objects using a digital map.
Decisions whether to warn the driver or brake the train are made on the basis
of these ongoing calculations. A newly developed map from DB InfraGo, which
depicts reality with centimeter-accurate precision in 3D, is being used for
this purpose for the first time.
As part of the Digital Rail Germany initiative, Siemens,
a technology leader in the field of rail automation, and Deutsche Bahn are
pursuing a new approach to accelerate the introduction of this detection technology
in the rail sector and promote innovation in Germany. In the project, selected
data showing obstacles on the track will be made available centrally in
anonymized form and can be used for research purposes, such as training AI
models or for system validation.
Following a one-year test phase through all seasons,
the assistance system should be ready for use as an emergency braking
assistance system that operates in the background to support the driver. On the
basis of the data generated during this phase, it will be possible to use the
system together with other automation components for automated driving at low
speeds, such as during depot shunting or when deploying or shutting down a
train. The field test aims to:
- Gain knowledge about boundary conditions for obstacle detection with the help of joint data evaluation,
- Record and evaluate the performance of the sensor technology under special operating conditions such as rain, fog, snow, and dirt,
- Minimize risks related to planning projects (technology, calculations, deadlines), and
- Optimize system settings to avoid false alarms, essential for driverless operation.
Innovative obstacle detection system is being tested for the first time on the Berlin S-Bahn
The cooperation
partners Siemens Mobility, Deutsche Bahn AG (S-Bahn Berlin GmbH, DB InfraGo, DB
Systemtechnik) and the states of Berlin and Brandenburg with the
Berlin/Brandenburg Transport Association will jointly analyse the findings and
data from the project in the research project. Installation
of a set of prototype sensors for detecting obstacles has already been
completed in an S-Bahn Berlin train. As part of the field test, up to ten
trains in the Berlin S-Bahn fleet will be equipped with the sensors. Once the
field test has been completed, it is planned to remove the sensors.
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Siemens Mobility is a separately managed company of Siemens AG. As a leader in intelligent transport solutions for more than 175 years, Siemens Mobility is constantly innovating its portfolio. Its core areas include rolling stock, rail automation and electrification, a comprehensive software portfolio, turnkey systems as well as related services. With digital products and solutions, Siemens Mobility is enabling mobility operators worldwide to make infrastructure intelligent, increase value sustainably over the entire lifecycle, enhance passenger experience and guarantee availability. In fiscal year 2023, which ended on September 30, 2023, Siemens Mobility posted revenue of €10.5 billion and employed around 39,800 people worldwide. Further information is available at: www.siemens.com/mobility