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Parallel Systems: Electric and autonomous on the track

The specialist has presented the second generation of its autonomous battery-electric rail vehicles. 

Autonomous on the tracks: Parallel Systems has introduced the second generation of its electric rail vehicle. (Image: Parallel Systems)
Autonomous on the tracks: Parallel Systems has introduced the second generation of its electric rail vehicle. (Image: Parallel Systems)
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von Nadine Bradl

Parallel Systems, a company founded to develop autonomous battery-electric rail vehicles, publicly unveiled its second-generation vehicle on September 12, which is to be used by customers in pilot tests on existing rail networks in the USA and internationally. 

The new generation is aimed at testing usage on the existing rail network, among other things, said Parallel. 

"A crucial step in our product development," said Matt Soule, co-founder and CEO of Parallel Systems.

Currently, only three percent of the total 143,000 miles of U.S. railroad track is occupied by active trains, and the available tracks present an enormous opportunity to shift freight transport from the congested roadways to the rail system.

"In addition to addressing the truck driver shortage, transitioning 100,000 truck kilometers to Parallel's emission-free rail vehicles would eliminate up to 175 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere."

Autonomous and Remote Controlled

The new rail vehicle has received an optical update through a tension structure connecting each end of the railcar to accommodate a standard-sized freight container. The second-generation vehicle also includes both autonomous and remote-controlled operating functions.

Currently, Parallel Systems has produced three second-generation vehicles, with three more in production and additional units planned. Since November 2022, the vehicles have been undergoing control, telemetry, traction, brake, and dynamics tests at Parallel’s test track in Southern California. Trackworthiness tests will be conducted in 2024 with MxV Rail, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Association of American Railroads, in Pueblo, Colorado.

Platoon Operations

Parallel plans to begin platoon demonstrations with the second-generation vehicle later this year. In these operations, each Parallel railcar is individually powered and forms trains with up to 50 wagons to reduce energy consumption and efficiently utilize the rail network capacity. The platooning is fully automatic; the wagons do not need to be coupled or uncoupled, they simply move close to each other and then make contact through bumpers to form platoons. Once contact is established, each vehicle maintains a specified force with the preceding vehicle by regulating tractive force. The small air gap and pressure effect from the railcar’s bumpers reduce the overall air resistance of the train, thereby improving energy efficiency.

The second-generation autonomous battery-electric rail vehicle from Parallel is built to the following specifications:

● Drive System: Battery-electric powertrain.
● Autonomous System: Fully autonomous, with a bidirectional, camera-based perception system.
● Payload Capacity: Up to 70,000 pounds / 58,000 kilograms

Parallel received a total funding of $4,438,897 from the Department of Energy (DOE) to contribute to the development, production, and testing of the second-generation electric rail vehicles.

Translated automatically from German.
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