Smart Depot in Tampere

On 18 July 2024 Škoda Group announced that it has successfully demonstrated the first functions of its Smart Depot system, which has enabled the Škoda Smart Artic X34 tram, number 01, of the Tampereen Ratikka to successfully complete automated movements in various scenarios in the Hervanta depot without the presence of the driver. The project has entered this trial phase just a year after its announcement and, according to the manufacturer, marks a significant step towards full vehicle autonomy. The system was developed by Škoda in-house in the Czech Republic with investment support from the PPF Group.

The tram autonomously performed complex tasks entered remotely via the server application, including passing through the wash station, detecting track clearance and reacting to obstacles. This is possible thanks to the ATO and the ACS anti-collision system which Škoda developed for trams. ACS uses LiDAR mapping of the area in front of the tram at a distance of 100 to 150 m and a high-resolution camera.

The Smart Depot project integrates existing and newly developed technologies into a single system and automates routine processes to increase the efficiency and safety of depot operations. Škoda Group has long been working with the Tampereen Ratikka to develop and test digital technologies. For this purpose, the Lyyli Living Lab, an experimental, testing and marketing environment, was created in 2022 in cooperation with other organisations. Lyyli is a female name, which the car was given after the name in the calendar on its delivery day on 23 May. Each tram in Tampere has an individual name, which is given for them in the same way. 

The Škoda Smart Artic X34 tram plays an important role in the Lyyli Living Lab environment. It is used as an experimental test bed where new solutions can be installed and immediate feedback can be obtained in real-world operation. Škoda is also working on similar activities in the Czech Republic, specifically in Plzeň.

The Lyyli tram has additional equipment consisting of the rack in the passenger salon, additional displays to present the tested solutions to the passengers, 4G/5G internet connectivity, an industrial "AI computer" Sintrones Abox 5210 with NVIDIA GPU, running Linux OS Ubuntu 22.04 with Docker virtual environment. The computer has access to the tram data.

The collected data can, under certain conditions, be shared with other members of TURMS, which is an acronym for the Tampere Urban Rail Mobility Services innovation cluster, of which Lyyli Living Lab is a key member. It collects about 60 signals from the tram as well as position data and other data from the Living Lab environment, passenger counting data and more.