The development of information and communication technologies has accelerated significantly in recent years. While the 20th century was an era of intensive industrial development, access to and the flow of information is crucial in the 21st century. In this context, the market for the so-called Internet of Things (IoT), i.e. devices that can communicate with each other (e.g. motion sensors, cameras, detectors, meters, including those installed from scratch or on top of existing ‘analogue’ devices) is currently one of the fastest growing industries. It is estimated that this year the number of devices connected to the internet in this way will reach the dizzying scale of 30 billion. Increasingly, IoT devices are finding their way into households – such as smart TVs, fridges and cleaning robots. Connecting to the network makes it possible to extend the functionality of such devices, and this also applies to everyday appliances with significantly larger dimensions.

The emergence of IoT means that rail vehicle manufacturers, whose roots go back to industrial times, must also offer comprehensive solutions that go well beyond simply providing modern rolling stock. Operational support through advanced IoT solutions, including Big Data, is now the standard. Current diagnostic systems, installed in modern vehicles, enable rolling stock to be operated based on data from sensors installed on mechanical components.

Strain gauges and accelerometers used by Pesa as part of the DiagApp solution monitor and then compare vibration and displacement levels with specified safety levels. If these are exceeded, a warning of impending failure is generated, allowing so-called preventive maintenance to be applied instead of replacing the defective part as a result of, for example, a sudden fault occurring during operation. The sensor data is invaluable, as optical verification during periodic inspection is not able to recognise material damage at this level. As a result, data collection and analysis is very effective for rolling stock operators looking to save money and optimise fleet use. Energy consumption and the recuperation rate are also measured to increase the energy efficiency of the fleet. In turn, temperature, pressure and voltage distributions are checked to improve vehicle functionality.

It doesn’t stop there, as data from current operations can also help in the design of future vehicles. – Today’s trains or trams increasingly resemble ‘computers on rails’, which opens up entirely new possibilities. For example, studying the distribution of forces in vehicle components with information on exceeding limit values is invaluable knowledge for designers working on durability and safety. This prevents premature wear and tear. – says Jacek Konop, Pesa Bydgoszcz’s technical board member. – The use of advanced Big Data solutions allows rail vehicles to be better designed, taking into account their subsequent operating conditions. This is all the more important as the requirements of the operators do not always reflect the actual impact of, for example, the quality of the infrastructure on vibrations and stresses, or do not anticipate all the environmental factors in which the rolling stock is operated. DiagApp is a universal tool that also enables the verification of infrastructure by the network manager and the elimination of causes of potential damage as a result of interaction between vehicle and track. As a result, data collected from a few vehicles can protect the entire fleet, including vehicles not equipped with DiagApp – concludes Jacek Konop.

https://vimeo.com/pesabydgoszcz/review/390982769/75be94b8f9