A consortium consisting of Hitex (UK, Germany), TWI Ltd (UK), Transport Systems Catapult (UK), TMB (Spain) and Innovative Technology and Science Limited (UK) will introduce a new system which can remotely detect failures before they happen and predict the lifespan of a train door. VA-RCM is part of the Horizon 2020 Fast Track to Innovation Pilot with a total EU financing of EUR 2.25 million.
The new project using vibration analysis will provide huge safety and efficiency savings, as well as reduced downtime for rolling stock operators in the rail industry. In Europe, 25-50 per cent of defects in trains occur in the doors, while worldwide it has been recorded, that 70 per cent of passenger injuries are caused by mechanical failures of train doors.
The VA-RCM (Vibration analysis for Remote Condition Monitoring) system lies in vibration analysis algorithms. Vibration takes places when either there is a defect or an external stimulus effecting the mechanism. The system will be able to detect problems with train doors based on comparison with previous vibration data and predict their remaining lifetime. This data will be gathered remotely in real time, so interventions can be targeted rather than relying on a constant maintenance cycle.
“The VA-RCM project can reduce unexpected failures and incidents which can cause carriages to be taken out of service – reducing capacity and causing disruptions to service. We can also provide a way to reduce maintenance costs through predictive systems,” Sofia Sampethai, Project Manager from Transport Systems Catapult said.
Share on:
