train

Alstom to test fully driverless trains in Germany

June 4, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

Rolling stock manufacturer Alstom is to trial what could be described as “fully driverless trains” in Germany.

The company has going ahead with a test project to implement Automatic Train Operation technology in the daily passenger operation of regional trains.

The project will begin in 2021 in partnership with the Regional Association of the greater area of Braunschweig, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Technical University of Berlin (TU Berlin). [Read more…] about Alstom to test fully driverless trains in Germany

Alstom considers the implications of its first order for battery trains

February 6, 2020 by Sam Francis Leave a Comment

In February 2020, Alstom received an order for 11 battery powered regional trains for the Zweckverband Verkehrsverbund Mittelsachsen in Germany.

These are the first battery trains to be ordered from Alstom.

Offering both hydrogen and battery is an important milestone for the Alstom, as it expands its role in the emission-free mobility market. [Read more…] about Alstom considers the implications of its first order for battery trains

Alstom to develop a driving simulator for Barcelona Metro

June 5, 2019 by Anna

Alstom is to develop an S9000 train driving simulator for lines 9 and 10 of the Barcelona Metro, currently the only driverless lines in operation in Spain.

The solution will consist of a training system that incorporates the latest simulation technologies for routes, conditions and obstacles.

The simulator will create realistic scenarios employing virtual reality technology commonly used by video games developers.

Nvidia unveils new reinforcement learning research at ICRA 2019

May 31, 2019 by Sam Francis

Nvidia researchers from the newly opened robotics research lab in Seattle, Washington have presented a new proof of concept reinforcement learning approach that aims to enhance how robots trained in simulation will perform in the real world. (See video below.)

The work was presented at the recent International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) in Montreal, Canada.

The research is part of a growing trend in the deep learning and robotics community that relies on simulation for training. [Read more…] about Nvidia unveils new reinforcement learning research at ICRA 2019

Capturing Improved Productivity: Tugger Train Automation

May 8, 2019 by David Edwards

By Andy Legut, FlexQube

Too often automation and robotics are characterized by sensors driving Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).

There are ways to efficiently automate material flow and lean manufacturing principles today. It starts with automating into a fork truck free environment.

Ultimately the reason for automation is to capture improved productivity. Cesar Jimenez, a Toyota Material Handling, USA employee shared that a forklift can only carry up to two loads at a time.

[Read more…]

Alstom’s Taubaté site in Brazil resumes industrial activities

September 5, 2018 by Anna

Alstom is opening a new production line at its Taubaté site in Brazil to manufacture stainless steel carshells for the Santiago Metro, in Chile.

The company is resuming industrial activities at the site and hiring new employees, after halting activities following production of 32 Citadis tramways for Rio de Janeiro. The new project, named NS16, will deliver 35 new trains to the Santiago Metro.

The carshells, after being manufactured in Brazil, will be shipped to Alstom’s unit in Chile for final assembly before delivery to the customer.