On June 13, the new type smart urban rapid rail transit (RRT) train, independently developed by CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd., made its first appearance in an exhibition, providing an alternative solution to urban transport.

Distinct from conventional forms of urban rail transit such as metros and tramcars, the smart RRT train is an electronic guidance rubber-tired system and dubbed as a “metro on road”. Equipped with rubber tires instead of steel wheels, the vehicle, dependent on guidance lines or pre-embedded magnetic pins on roads, employs “optical identification” and “permanent magnetic induction” technologies to achieve intelligent perception, forecast moving trajectories and enable automatic tracking navigation. In consequence, the train can be controlled in an accurate way to run on a “virtual track”.

The smart RRT system dispenses with both physical tracks and overhead line system installation and is powered by traction batteries, hydrogen fuels and super capacitors simultaneously. Therefore, neither contact networks overhead nor underground tracks exist. It can make better use of the existing urban roads and outperforms in terms of the construction period length, cost, relocation, transport volume and service life.

With a maximum capacity of 280 passengers and the fastest speed of 70 km/h, the 30-meter-long vehicle is provided with sophisticated sensing equipment including laser radars and binocular cameras and has high-precision sensory ability. Both manual driving and autonomous driving under all scenarios are viable. It consumes merely three to four kilowatt-hours of electricity every kilometer.

As a new type urban rail transit system featuring middle and low transport volume, the smart RRT system can be applied under varied scenarios. It applies to not only shuttle services in large cities and trunk lines in small and medium-sized cities, but also tourist routes in various cities, thus providing a new smart environment-friendly solution.  (Liu Lanxing)

The new type smart urban RRT train, independently developed by CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd., makes its first appearance.