World’s First Autonomous Tram Presented By Siemens Mobility At InnoTrans 2018

The world’s first autonomous tram has been presented by Siemens Mobility at the innoTrans 2018. Siemens demonstrated an autonomously driving test tram on a six-km section of the tram network with real traffic in Postdam, Germany.

The Siemens Combino tram was developed in collaboration with ViP Verkehrsbetrieb Potsdam GmbH for the project. The tram has been equipped with high-tech equipments such as multiple Lidar, Radar and camera sensors to facilitate autonomous driving by serving as digital eyes in order to track the traffic environment around the tram.

Complex software algorithms in the tram function as the brain of the vehicle feeding on the data and evaluating it to trigger an appropriate response by the tram. Artificial intelligence in the tram makes it possible for the tram to stop at intended stops, respond to trackside tram signals and autonomously react to hazards like crossing pedestrians and vehicles.

Sabrina Soussan, chief executive officer of Siemens Mobility said,“This world premiere demonstrates how we are actively shaping the mobility of the future. Our autonomous tram can already master essential operating tasks in real road traffic at this stage of development. By relying on the “Siemens Tram Assistant” collision warning system being used in, among other places, our Avenio M tram operating in Ulm, Germany, we have already reached series maturity – an important milestone on the way to autonomous driving. By making trains and infrastructure intelligent, we can guarantee availability and enhance safety in local and long-distance travel.”

However, the current project only aims at figuring out the technological challenges of real-life autonomous driving and has not been designed for the commercial use.