Innovative opportunities of autonomous rail crews by Parallel Systems

Parallel Systems, an American startup, has successfully showcased the innovative capabilities of autonomous rail crews on a test track in Southern California, this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Second-generation crews, consisting of two motorized carts, can merge into columns, enhancing transportation efficiency.

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Each crew is equipped with traction batteries and connected by a lightweight structure, allowing the transport of either one 40-foot container or two with a double-deck arrangement.

Interestingly, one column can include up to 50 autonomous crews that mechanically interact through central buffer supports, improving aerodynamic characteristics and reducing energy consumption.

Parallel Systems began testing crew column operations in October 2023.

During the tests, processes of merging, acceleration, and separation of the column were thoroughly studied.

The startup’s plans involve increasing the number of crews in a column, continuing trials, and further refining the technology.

Integral to this technology’s development are requests from two railroads to grant the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration the right to conduct trials on their infrastructure.

An agreement with the Australian operator Arc Infrastructure promises even greater progress, with autonomous crew testing in 2024 on a mainline in conjunction with their train control system.

These steps affirm the importance and potential of developing autonomous rail vehicles in the global infrastructure.

Photo/video: Parallel Systems

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