Drivers Assistance System for trams receives approval for passenger service

Bombardier’s new Drivers Assistance System for trams has received approval for passenger service in Frankfurt, Germany.

Stereovision cameras identify and track the movement of objects on or near a tram’s path

The new Drivers Assistance System (DAS) will be installed on trams for passenger service from August 2015. The new safety platform incorporates an anti-collision system that gives trams drivers advanced warning of a potential impact with pedestrians, bikers, other vehicles, or objects obstructing the tram tracks. The system uses a network of stereovision cameras to identify and track the movement of objects on or near a tram’s path. If an imminent collision is likely, the system issues an audio alert for the tram driver and applies an automatic braking function.

The safety platform was developed in conjunction with the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT) and was tested with the aid of Frankfurt’s transport authority the Verkehrsgesellschaft Frankfurt am Main (VFG). Following approval by the technical supervisory authority, the first VFG tram equipped with Das is now being tried and tested on regular passenger service. By December 2016 all VGF 73 “S” tramcars will be installed with DAS safety technology.

In addition to DAS, Bombardier has developed an external airbag known as BodyGuard which prevents pedestrians from being trapped under a moving tram.