Knorr-Bremse, one of the world's leading suppliers of braking systems for rail and commercial vehicles, has teamed up with Swiss asset intelligence specialist Nexxiot to launch a range of intelligent products aimed at improving connectivity across the rail industry. These solutions will provide a new level of connectivity for braking and other rail systems, enabling customers to improve cost-effectiveness, operational efficiency, and reliability.
The suite of intelligent products includes the Knorr-Bremse Node, the Knorr-Bremse Hub, and associated cloud services. The Knorr-Bremse Node is an adapter that collects operating data from various systems such as braking, access, air conditioning, and coupling systems. It collects data on noise, geolocation, temperature, energy consumption and shock or vibration. The data collected by the Knorr-Bremse node is then sent via Bluetooth to the Knorr-Bremse hub, which aggregates the data streams from multiple nodes and sends them to the Nexxiot cloud. In the cloud, artificial intelligence and algorithms analyze the data streams and turn them into specific insights, such as the location, condition, performance, maintenance requirements, and potential malfunctions of vehicle systems and components.
The launch of the smart products is scheduled for 2024, with options to equip and retrofit both passenger and freight trains. With the integration of IoT technology and smart analytics, the rail industry can expect improved train availability, increased operational efficiency, and punctuality.
The collaboration between Knorr-Bremse and Nexxiot aims to drive the digitalization of the rail sector and create advanced connectivity solutions that contribute to sustainable, reliable, and efficient rail mobility. The companies are already working on key projects with customers in the UK and USA. For example, UK rail freight operator VTG is using the new technology for predictive maintenance, and New York Air Brake (NYAB), Knorr-Bremse's rail freight subsidiary in the USA, is working with customers in the US freight sector to install Knorr-Bremse nodes in brake control systems on freight trains.
“The rail industry is asking for solutions that will enhance cost efficiency, operational efficiency, and reliability. Digitalization and data management technologies offer enormous opportunities in this respect. With the smart solutions we’re presenting with Nexxiot, we’re creating a new level of connectivity for our braking and other systems that will help our customers to improve the productivity, availability and punctuality of their rail services,” said Nicolas Lange, Member of the Executive Board of Knorr-Bremse AG with global responsibility for the Rail division.
