ROTTERDAM METRO

TRES pilot program in Rotterdam with RET

FMT is proud to share a recent Robotics Pilot Program completed alongside Downer with RET in Rotterdam.

Asset Manager Ben Pilgram from RET shared that like most tech and service- orientated companies, RET also faces difficulties in attracting and retaining enough qualified technicians to keep their fleet of 166 vehicles operational and safe.

The changing demographics in Rotterdam and The Hague (a large proportion will retire within the next couple of years, including within RET) conflict with the expressed need for more metros and the necessity to uphold the quality and quantity of maintenance on the existing fleets.

This provided FMT in partnership with Downer an opportunity to conduct a Robotics Pilot Program with RET Metro in Rotterdam. Across a four-week on-site pilot, FMT worked closely with RET's staff, demonstrating key capabilities tailored to RET's needs with the primary goal of digitising and automating necessary visual inspections in a way that would free up time for mechanics, thereby increasing their availability to maintain and repair vehicles.

FMT used the Train Examination System (TRES) to successfully demonstrate the digitisation and automation of 19 prescribed inspections on each side of the bogie - resulting in over 200+ inspections being completed on the underframe of each train in under 1 hour.

What is TRES?

TRES is an autonomous inspection robot designed specifically for rollingstock assets. Equipped with FMT’s advanced sensor kits, it uses the latest in LiDAR, laser, and optical technologies to assess component condition and identify defects. Unlike traditional systems, TRES is fully autonomous and does not require civil works or modifications to existing Maintenance Facilities.

Through highly configurable inspections, TRES can automate up to 70% of underframe inspections, delivering detailed and accurate 3D models of train components. These models enable a wide range of critical measurements that enhance maintenance quality and reliability.

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Our Approach

FMT's approach to automating train inspections offers distinct advantages:

No Infrastructure Modifications Needed: Agile and mobile platforms eliminate the need for extensive infrastructure modifications, speeding up implementation and reducing lifecycle costs. The ability to deploy multiple robots prevents potential bottlenecks.
Flexible Inspection Capability: Designed for adaptability, FMT's solutions allow for the addition of new inspections over time without hardware changes, evolving with the rail industry's changing needs.
‍Flexible support options: FMT is able to provide a range of support options ranging up to a comprehensive managed service that ensures we are with you for every step in your automation journey.

Thanks to a great team effort from engineers and specialists within RET (Tristan Zaaijer, Abdel Benaissa BSc, Alexander van Doeveren, Wishall Sewnath, Marjelke Paré, Max Janssen, Daniel Aukema and colleagues from the fleet service department at Waalhaven) and FMT (Saad Khan, David Philpot, Loic Ayoul, Owen Plagens, Ben McKelvey, and the ever energetic Daniel Messina).

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Results

The pilot successfully demonstrated TRES’s capabilities in a dense urban tram environment, including:

Early detection of track geometry irregularities.
Identification of maintenance needs in switches and crossings.
Generation of detailed, actionable reports for maintenance planning.

RET's team provided positive feedback regarding the ease of installation, the quality of data collected, and the potential for TRES to complement their current maintenance practices.

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Benefits of Implementing TRES

TRES has been designed specifically for the rail industry with the following benefits:

Safety Benefits

Eliminates the need for isolation of electrical and mechanical systems during inspections
Reduces exposure to confined spaces for maintenance personnel

Engineering Benefits

High accuracy and repeatability across all rollingstock measurements
Complete historical data recording with no manual handling, ensuring data integrity and accessibility
Improved product safety through better-quality data

Operational Benefits

Reduces manual inspection tasks inside the maintenance shed
Increases capacity and operational resilience

Company Benefits

Strengthens brand positioning through innovation
Enhances customer relationships by leading digital transformation in rail

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Learn More

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Want to see TRES in action?

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