Future Focus Zone Exhibitors 

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This year, we are launching the "Future Focus Zone", a specialised section created to highlight revolutionary advancements in fields like robotics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, virtual reality, and immersive technologies. Our aim is to showcase pioneering work from academic and research institutions, providing a platform for innovations that may not typically receive attention in a railway exhibition setting.

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University of Southampton

 Distributed Optical Fibre Sensing and the National Infrastructure Laboratory

High-resolution distributed acoustic sensor (HR-DAS) is a new sensing technology that uses a single strand of optical fibre to map the strain distribution along any structure with unprecedented strain accuracy. With a diameter of 250 μm, the optical fibre can easily be attached to or integrated inside any structure to provide a detailed map of structure behaviour every 10 cm at thousands of points. Hence, HR-DAS represents a practical embodiment of a finite element analysis model that can be used to characterise large civil structures such as bridges and rail tracks.

HR-DAS is being used to develop a smart composite bridge beam, which will be tested in the National Infrastructure Laboratory in April 2024. There is an extremely wide range of potential applications for this technology.

 

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Brunel University London

 The increase in rail passenger miles causes a proportionate growth in number of trains, challenging existing method of rolling stock maintenance. CyberFliuds is an autonomous robotic system designed for industrial, economical, and fast fluid maintenance. The simple design honours mechanical reliability and robustness to provide an attractive solution for increasing maintenance capacity in new and existing depots. It is used for tasks including dispensing and extracting various fluids such as CET, Fuel, Fresh Water, Sand etc.

The technology relies on cleverly designed compliant mechanisms as end effectors to reduce the need for accurate, active and feedback control systems. As a result, it is more robust to process variations such as lighting, debris and dirt which often hinder the performance of sensors and vision systems. It is capable of operation in uncontrolled environments that constitute inside or outside maintenance depots. The compliant end effectors also reduce the robot payload which has further decreased overall robot and installation cost.

We built this system with the support of RSSB and Innovate UK Grants. Having recently secured an EPSRC IAA fund in collaboration with Chiltern Railway, we are pursuing the development of an infield prototype.

Click here to learn more.

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Centre for Robotics and Assembly

The Centre for Robotics and Assembly brings together a group of leading experts with diverse skill sets to solve multi-faceted and complex problems. Our research and teaching spans robotics, automation, industrial psychology and human factors and driver behaviour.  

Click here to learn more.

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The National Robotarium
Heriot-Watt University / University of Edinburgh

Established jointly by Heriot-Watt University and the University of Edinburgh, the National Robotarium is a world-leading centre for Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, creating innovative solutions to global challenges. 

Informed by sectoral needs, we work collaboratively with industry partners around the globe and act as a gateway to the UK Robotics sector and Government support. We aim to have a positive impact on the UK economy by aiding the rapid transition of solutions from laboratory to market, supporting start-ups and SMEs from Heriot-Watt University, the University of Edinburgh and across the UK.  

Click here to learn more.

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 RaICo

RAICo is a collaboration between the UK Atomic Energy Authority, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Sellafield Ltd and the University of Manchester. Our purpose is solving shared nuclear decommissioning and fusion engineering challenges by accelerating deployment of robotics and AI.

University of Birmingham 

The Human Interface Technologies Team is an award-winning research and development group within the University of Birmingham, specialising in human-centred design and human factors, and the exploitation of eXtended Reality (XR) technologies and techniques (Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality) for applications in visualisation, training, and design. As well as its research foci in XR for defence and healthcare, the Team is active in the Virtual Heritage arena, specifically using 3D scanning and ‘360’ (panoramic) imaging technologies to preserve railway sites and assets, such as, most recently, the Power Signal Box at Birmingham New Street and the Borough Market Signal Box at the National Railway Museum in York. The Team also has an active Healthcare from Heritage programme, which includes the delivery of unique VR and 360 railway journey experiences to patients and residents in hospitals, care homes and hospices. This work involves close collaboration with UK rail heritage companies, including Severn Valley Railway, Dartmouth Steam Railway & River Boat Company, Bodmin and Wenford Railway and Bala Lake Railway.

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University of Bristol

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University of Huddersfield

A new £1.8 million project led by the University of Huddersfield is investigating how cutting edge-technology and data analysis could improve the efficiency and reliability of how the UK’s railway rolling stock is maintained. The Smart Rolling Stock Maintenance project is underway following the award of a grant from the European Regional Development Fund, supported by the Northern Powerhouse. A team from the University’s Institute of Railway Research (IRR) and Centre for Planning, Autonomy and Representation of Knowledge (PARK) will work closely alongside a range of key industry partners including Northern Trains Ltd, Porterbrook and Unipart Rail over the course of the three-year project. The project will investigate the use of industrial automation, advanced condition-monitoring with data analytics, the use of augmented reality and automated maintenance planning and scheduling.  

Click here to learn more.

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University of Sheffield
Advance Manufacturing Research Centre

The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) is a world-leading research and innovation network and has 120 industrial partners including Rolls-Royce, Boeing, McLaren, Airbus and BAE Systems. It turns world-leading research into practical improvements for industry, helping to boost businesses productivity and sharpen their competitive edge, while saving time, money and energy. The AMRC fosters collaborations and partnerships between industry, academia and government, and is a member of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, a national consortium of leading manufacturing and process research centres, backed by the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK. 

Click here to learn more.

 

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University of Hull

The University of Hull developed NR+ platform combines a number of data sources used for the routing of freight trains, in a single integrated database. The data is visualised in a geospatial map format. This enable users to find and analyse the best routes for freight trains on the UK rail network, considering the complex constraints that applies to specific train configurations (i.e. locomotive, wagon and load combinations). It can be described as a “Google Maps for freight trains in the UK”.

Additional data elements, like gradients and speed restrictions, allow further types of analysis. We constructed an energy and emissions simulation tool on the platform, which enables detailed analysis and optioneering of specific freight train journeys. A simulations for any train configuration on any UK route can be performed within minutes, a quantum improvement on existing methodologies and tools. This type of scenario analysis is increasingly important to understand the energy and emissions impact of decisions made relating to infrastructure investment, rolling stock options, and operational routing and scheduling.

The NR+ platform is also used for other purposes, e.g. delay impact assessment and rail-road freight journey comparisons. Come and talk to us to find out more about these.

 

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