Recent rail accidents in Philadelphia and all over the world lead many a commenter to wonder why there wasn’t a more sophisticated monitoring system aboard these trains. Well, the industry saw that problem and is beginning to release some solutions.
Predikto, a technology solutions developer for the rail industry, has partnered with New York Air Brake (NYAB) to bring the power of predictive analytics to bear on the problem.
NYAB will incorporate Predikto’s auto-dynamic predictive analytics platform, MAX, into the company’s LEADER advanced train control technology solutions to help engineers and system monitors make travel safer. The mutually developed solution will now leverage a suite of predictive analytics software applications to collect train data from LEADER and from the train itself, such as weather and line of road conditions, and then create profiles of risk for rail lines. The MAX self-learning artificial-intelligence solution takes the data inputs and adapts itself to rapid changes in context in near real time in order to create accurate forecasts for a wide array of possible situations.
“Integrating predictive analytics with the rich train information from LEADER will allow the railroads to utilize data to proactively identify
Image via Shutterstock opportunities to improve operating efficiency and rail safety,” said Mario Montag, CEO, Predikto. “Partnering with a premier technology company in the rail industry, such as New York Air Brake, will allow Predikto's award-winning platform to make a defining impact on the rail industry.”
The MAX platform has already been in use monitoring bullet trains in Europe and as wayside detection equipment in North America. Now, it will bring its prognostications to bear on NYAB’s lines. Some of the sensors to be deployed include a locomotive energy efficiency forecaster, a braking efficiency forecaster and track health monitors.
“You can have data without information, but you cannot have information without data. Predikto's MAX allows us to extract every bit of information and turn it into actionable insights that will improve visibility into operations, provide innovative solutions to improve safety, and provide clarity into the critical maintenance and performance indicators that impact the bottom line most,” said Greg Hrebek, Director of Engineering, NYAB. “The capability offered between us through this collaboration is unprecedented in the rail industry and will rapidly accelerate the value of the investment the railroads have made into locomotive onboard intelligence.”
All aboard, folks. It’s going to be a smoother ride.
Edited by
Maurice Nagle
