CRSC-developed automatic driving system passes review of field test

The CTCS-3+ATO, a high-speed rail automatic driving system independently developed by China Railway Signal & Communication Corp (CRSC), recently passed a review of China Railway Corporation (CRC).

It signals that the system officially finished its field test and is ready for on-site trial operation on the Beijing-Shenyang high-speed railway. Once fully operational, it will improve China's transportation technologies and support the construction of an intelligent Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed line.

A high-speed train equipped with the CTCS-3+ATO automatic driving system in trial operation [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

The system, which can run as fast as 350 km per hour, uses intelligent control algorithms and control strategies to precisely control trains at that speed. It also offers passenger comfort, parking accuracy, and reduces energy consumption.

It is of great significance in reducing driver's labor, enhancing the operational efficiency of high-speed railways and improving passengers' riding experience.

In the automatic driving mode, a high-speed train equipped with the system can depart, run, park and control its doors automatically, freeing the driver from those duties, but the driver otherwise serves as an emergency back-up and ensures safe and efficient high-speed operation.

A high-speed train parking on a rail station [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

CRSC started research and development of the system in 2007 which was successfully applied on the 200 km per hour Dongguan-Huizhou intercity trains in Guangdong province in 2016.

In September 2017, the CRC launched a research project on automatic driving of express trains, and the CRSC was responsible for compiling an overall technical design and interface specifications of related equipment.

In February 2018, the design was approved by the CRC and passed the review for trial operation in June.

From June to September, the whole set of equipment for the system passed a field test on the Beijing-Shenyang railway with excellent performance in hundreds of rigorous tests.

(Executive editor: Li Shuling)