Vaasa-based TK Engineering Oy is designing a telematics-based diagnostic system that will be used in the City of Tampere’s new smart trams. The development work is being carried out in close cooperation with Transtech Oy, which belongs to the Škoda Group.
The purpose of the diagnostic system is to collect information about the trams distributed control systems using, for example, CAN technology and other data networks. TK Engineering’s solution enables a large amount of data to be reliably collected and automatically transferred onto a server. In developing the system, its scalability in the future, both in the short and long term, is being taken into account as much as possible. The collected data will be used to improve the reliability of the trams and to create services to improve passenger comfort.
The trams’ maintenance diagnostics will influence their maximum reliability. The data will help to anticipate any need for servicing, which will minimise unexpected visits to the depot. Accurate and specific information will reduce the number of services carried out “just in case”. Consequently, the maintenance diagnostics will bring both financial and environmental savings.
Photo: TK Engineering Oy
“The application environment of the Tampere tramway project is very much to our liking and a fascinating challenge. This project allows us to combine all the know-how we have gathered from various sectors over the years and to utilise modes of operation that have proven effective. We are proud to be involved in developing zero-emission vehicles and public transport. On the scale of large cities, these are particularly significant factors for the improvement of the climate,” says the company’s CEO Timo Kesti.
Data collection plays an important role in developing environmentally friendly solutions, and this is not the first time TK Engineering has worked on developing ecological solutions. Examples of the company’s previous work include a project in Sweden that involved designing and testing charging systems for electric cars using a charging rail buried under the road. In Umeå, Sweden, the company designed a maintenance and diagnostic system for electric buses in public transport.
The CAN technology also supports the circular economy. As well as creating new solutions, it can be utilised in old, existing devices. CAN technology does not require heavy databases or other channels. By combining various technologies, new applications that work efficiently and safely can be created.
