Self-driving metro train rolls off Jilin production line

A train rolled off the production line on April 17 at manufacturer CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co's plant – in Changchun city in Northeast China's Jilin province – marking the first fully self-driving metro train made for the Shenzhen Metro.

The vehicle, produced for Shenzhen Metro Line 20, has an A-type aluminum alloy drum body, with eight carriages and a maximum operating speed of 120 kilometers per hour.

The fully automatic driving system gives the train a series of cutting-edge functions such as automatic wake-ups, automatic departure calls, precise parking and automatic detections.

At the same time, the Shenzhen Metro Line 20 project also features the world's best vehicle-vehicle communications technology. Compared with standard vehicle-ground-vehicle communications technology, it optimizes the vehicle control process and greatly improves train operational efficiency, as well as safety and reliability.

In order to ensure the safety of its fully automated driving, the unit has adopted an ethernet control system. For the first time in China, it integrates five types of comprehensive detection systems – including bow network detections, tunnel detections, boundary detections, track inspections and running department detections – in order to monitor the real-time status of vehicles and provide a data foundation for intelligent vehicle maintenance.

The train applies high-security level core control components, as well as obstacle detection, vehicle-assisted collision avoidance, end-wall collision avoidance, derailment detection and other safety assurance technologies. Its entire vehicle network security has reportedly been upgraded to the 2.0 level.

Meanwhile, the train has adopted a series of measures to improve the airtightness of the unit and ensure the comfort of passengers when the vehicle enters and exits tunnels.

At the same time, the train employs sound-absorption and noise-reduction materials on the floor and side walls and controls the overall air circulation to further reduce noise during its operation.