PKP Cargo, Pesą Bydgoszcz and Polish Rail Vehicles Institute “Tabor” signed an agreement for the development of an autonomous train.
Under the agreement, PKP Cargo and Pesa will develop technical assumptions and configuration of the designed locomotive which will be verified by IPS Tabor. The second phase includes design and research work, with Pesa proceeding the construction of the dual-system, electricity and diesel autonomous locomotive.
The first vehicle will be tested by PKP Cargo and is scheduled to be commissioned in 2022.
“The two-system locomotives are universal, and they will allow to perform both shunting and lining operations without changing the vehicle. We look optimistically at joint research and development on new locomotives which will be more efficient and will help to reduce costs,” PKP Cargo president Czesław Warsewicz said.
The electric-diesel of an autonomous locomotive, which is based on the Gama locomotive platform, received a positive evaluation and recommendation for funding under the Innotabor programme announced by the National Center for Research and Development.
After completing all tests and obtaining the required permits, the new locomotive will be commissioned in four years.
The vehicle is to achieve the level of GoA3 automation which means that the driver will not have to control the locomotive as safety will be ensured by an autonomous steering system controlled by artificial intelligence. It will be composed of a system of sensors, cameras, gyroscopes, etc. devices. But the driver will be present in the cabin, first of all to take over the locomotive control in the event of unusual scenarios.
Share on:
