Complete solution for automated brake testing

Together with PJM, the automation company Pilz developed a complete solution consisting of hardware and approved application software for an automated brake test: The PSS 4000-R automation system specially designed for automation tasks in the rail industry is part of the solution installed on the freight wagons. The control system determines the condition of the brakes and forwards them to a telematics system that is also installed on the car. The control solution is connected to the driver's tablet via a local radio system and to the web-based backend system via the LTE mobile radio standard. This means that the train driver is always informed about the current status and functionality of the brakes without having to check this manually and for each individual wagon before each departure.

Sources of error “before departure” can thus be reduced and train preparation is faster. The automated brake test saves up to 30 minutes on a 500 m long freight train. This significantly increases the punctuality and reliability, i.e. the efficiency, of rail traffic.