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A rail line in the northern Czech Republic is now home to Europe’s first autonomous train operating on an open track.
Developed by the private company AZD, the train, named Edita, has been running on a 24-kilometre (15-mile) test track since April.
According to AZD’s railway developer, Michal Novak, Edita operates on its own, controlling its speed, brakes, and traction.
The train is equipped with a system that uses cameras, lasers, satellite navigation, and a digital map to detect obstacles and react accordingly.
During a recent test run, the train successfully slowed down after a hare ran onto the track. Novak noted that it also once had to stop for a herd of sheep.
Credit: France 24
Unlike driverless trains in closed systems like subways or airport shuttles, Edita is unique in that it operates in an “open environment” with level crossings where obstacles like animals can appear.
The company invested $15 million in the project, with a third of the funding coming from the EU.
While current legislation requires a driver to be on board for supervision, the train has already travelled 1,700 kilometres (1,060 miles) with passengers.
A passenger, Radka Globanova, expressed her belief in the technology’s future, stating that with the rapid development of artificial intelligence, autonomous trains are a logical next step.
