Deutsche Bahn is investing 55 million euros in the E-Check process for inspecting ICE trains using artificial intelligence and robots to provide ICE trains with fresh water and pump wastewater, as reported by the railway portal Railway Supply.

DB develops E-Check for ICE with robotics and AI

The first ICE plant equipped with this new technology is Cologne-Nippes.

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After Cologne-Nippes, ICE plants in Berlin, Dortmund, Hamburg, and Munich will also implement the E-Check process by 2025.

With this initiative, Deutsche Bahn aims to make the technical maintenance and inspection process faster and more efficient.

DB’s fleet is expanding, and on average, the operator puts three new ICE trains into operation each month.

Thanks to E-Check, technicians at the plants are relieved of standard tasks and can focus on more complex duties, such as repairs.

During the E-Check inspection process, an ICE train passes through the gate of a camera, taking about five minutes for a 374-meter-long XXL ICE with 13 cars.

If needed, a mobile floor inspection device can also be used. AI evaluates the recordings. Any deviations are reported to the plant specialists.

A technician reviews the images and determines if it is indeed an error.

Then, a work order is automatically sent to the workshop staff’s tablet.

The technology can detect the slightest deviations, such as a screw that is no longer properly secured, a need for repairs, and even ‘cosmetic defects,’ such as damaged logos on the train’s exterior.

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Specialized robots, referred to as ‘cobots,’ handle the supply of fresh water and the pumping of wastewater for ICE trains.

These robots are capable of autonomously identifying the junction positions on different types of trains.

DB develops E-Check for ICE with robotics and AI

The entire E-Check process, including water supply and drainage, takes one and a half hours, which is half the time it would take for manual execution.

Photo: DB. The ‘MUFIG’ mobile floor inspection equipment. A mobile robot fills ICE trains with fresh water and pumps out wastewater.

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