Mumbai Metro implements AI-based system for proactive wheel repair, replacement

Mumbai Metro has for the first time installed an indigenously built AI-based Wheel Profile Measurement System (AWPMS), which can not only identify routine wear and tear or damage to wheels, but also suggest proactive repair or replacement, enhancing safety.

IntelliRail, a company that specializes in creating AI-based diagnostic products for railways, has recently delivered the system on two routes of the Mumbai Metro, which will ensure the smooth running of the metro system while increasing wheel life and reducing stress on the tracks.

IntelliWPMS is a fixed, trackside network of sensor and instrument systems that use lasers and cameras to provide accurate data on various wheel parameters, IntelliRail said.

“Powered by machine vision, the system ensures accuracy and speed of analysis while reducing human dependency,” it said. According to the company, AWPMS not only extends the life of one of the most expensive railway assets but also ensures significant cost savings as well as greater availability.

“This system has been installed at Charkop depot for Lines 2A and 7 of Mumbai Metro. This state-of-the-art system is one of the key technologies for monitoring rolling stock health being implemented by MMMOCL (Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Limited),” officials said.

He further added, “The latest WPMS installation is part of a larger modernization drive in which BEML is responsible for providing a complete package of diagnostic systems with its trainsets for Charkop and Mandalay depots. IntelliRail’s WPMS was installed under the expert guidance of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). Highlighting the shift from periodic to condition-based maintenance (CBM) in maintenance of railway systems in India, IntelliRail said that “sensors, data analytics and remote monitoring systems are being used to improve the reliability and availability of railway assets and reduce maintenance costs.” Experts said Indian metro networks are working on moving towards driverless train operations, as the first driverless technology was introduced on Delhi Metro’s Magenta Line in 2020, and given how this technology improves efficiency and reduces human dependency, there has been increased focus on unmanned train operations (UTOs).

“Both CBMs and UTOs rely on remote monitoring technologies and large amounts of data analytics for efficient operations. This is exactly what AWPMS implemented by Mumbai Metro brings,” the company said.

IntelliRail CEO Piyush Nigam described the development as “a significant achievement” for the company.

Nigam said, “Installing WPMS has been part of the strategic plan of Indian Railways for almost 5 years. The successful implementation is a significant achievement. Its alignment with the ‘Make in India’ mandate is even more significant. The installation and its outcome provide a strong vote of confidence to our broader mission of taking IntelliRail’s WPMS to the global market.”

Highlighting the many benefits of the system, IntelliRail said that no-contact measurement eliminates physical contact and ensures the safety of both the train and the equipment. “High accuracy measurements of ~0.5 mm for wheel profile and ~1.0 mm for diameter, which is essential to identify wheel profile irregularities that could cause safety issues or impact train performance,” the company said, highlighting several other benefits.

It added, “No major civil work is required to implement IntelliRail’s WPMS installation. Additionally, the speed of edge computing allows results to be made available as soon as the train passes through the module. The system can be configured to disseminate results via SMS and/or email alerts when a wheel is found to be out of range for any parameter.”