Next year, the first tests will begin at the tram depot in Poznań’s neighbourhood Franowo. Experts from the Łukasiewicz – Poznań Institute of Technology in cooperation with the Municipal Transport Company in Poznań are working on the development of an autonomous tram control system.
- Poznań is once again proving that modern public transport is a priority, while also demonstrating how the world of science and business, in this case the municipal company, intersect for the good of the City. As a forward-looking city, we are taking a step towards the development of autonomous rail transport. I am convinced that the exchange of knowledge, experience, and resources will lead to solutions that will ultimately serve all city residents.
Mariusz Wiśniewski, zastępca prezydenta Poznania
The Depot is the Initial Stage
If the tests are successful, the autonomous tram will take to the streets of Poznań in the future. However, first, the works must be carried out in an enclosed, secure area. The modern base in Franowo, with its almost 14 km of track and infrastructure reminiscent of a small town – with crossings and pedestrian crossings over the track, with traffic lights – is therefore an ideal location.
The first tasks will include an analysis of logistics processes at the depot. Researchers from Łukasiewicz – PIT will conduct simulations in a virtual environment. They will focus on modelling real-world data in terms of the infrastructure and activities carried out when operating trams at the depot.
The key to the project will be the development and introduction of tools to detect hazards encountered by the vehicle during trips. For this purpose, solutions based on artificial intelligence will be used.
The work will focus on the analysis of vehicle operation scenarios in various conditions, including extreme ones. Researchers from Łukasiewicz – PIT will develop the control algorithms and select appropriate electronic components. Tests to simulate obstacle detection and sensor failures are also planned, as well as the development of a driver assistance system that visualises safety zone violations. Test drives with installed sensors will be carried out, and the collected data will be used for the next stages of the project.
- The project aims to develop a system that can be installed in almost any vehicle. Our goal is to create a tool that is as versatile as possible, so that carriers can use it in their rolling stock. The tram will only go on the tracks once we are confident that it is safe and its operation is under full control. Keeping Passengers and Their Surroundings Safe is the Key
Rafał Cichy, dyrektor Łukasiewicz – Poznańskiego Instytutu Technologicznego
The autonomous vehicle will recognise the signals intended for trams, maintain a certain speed, stop at designated places and, most importantly, behave correctly in all situations, especially the dangerous ones we often witness on our roads (such as pedestrian intrusion or a car running a red light). The tram must be safe for both passengers and other traffic users.
Tram Will Be Used at Franowo
The tram will initially be used at the Franowo depot, which is one of the most modern depots in the country. MPK Poznań was the first carrier in Poland to use the DMS system, i.e. the automatic management of depot operations, which supports the management of the work of drivers and technical staff. The system identifies vehicles, imports their data, ranks them according to designated criteria, determines depot routes and parking spaces, etc.
- Cooperation on the development of autonomous rail transport is a natural consequence of the undertaken work. For the purposes of research, we provide the area of the Franowo depot, knowledge and experience in the field of logistics processes and in the field of vehicle operation, information on the procedures in force during work at the depot. We must remember that autonomous vehicles are the future of public transport, but it will still be many years before they can be implemented in such complex conditions as urban spaces, where other vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians are also in constant motion. However, parts of the system we are working on could be of use much earlier.
Krzysztof Dostatni, Prezes Zarządu MPK Poznań Sp. z o. o.
Nonetheless, the depot is just the beginning, and the project is a multi-year vision that is expected to culminate in an autonomous tram on the streets of Poznań.
Automatically controlled rail vehicles run in many cities, mainly serving metro lines and lines to airports. The world’s first autonomous tram was tested in real traffic in Potsdam in 2018. It is also part of a research project aimed at creating an autonomous tram depot in this city.
The ‘Autonomous Transport’ project is carried out by a consortium of five institutes of the Łukasiewicz Research Network (Łukasiewicz – PIMOT, Łukasiewicz – PIAP, Łukasiewicz – ILOT, Łukasiewicz – IEL, Łukasiewicz – PIT) and is funded by the Łukasiewicz Centre under a purposeful grant. The signing of the letter of intent took place on September 16.