The KRRI research team and Siemens Mobility officials testing ‘RAILOBSE’ on the Bangkok BTS line. (Photo: Korea Railroad Research Institute)

Received LOI from Siemens Mobility for above- and underground rail testing… second-half contract anticipated

A domestically developed AI-based automated rail inspection system is expected to enter the Thai and German markets within this year.

The Korea Railroad Research Institute (KRRI) announced on the 11th that it had successfully demonstrated its automated rail wear inspection system ‘RAILOBSE’ on the Bangkok BTS (Bangkok Mass Transit System, elevated rail) and MRT (subway) lines.

The demonstration was attended by KRRI, Siemens Mobility – the global operator of the Bangkok BTS – as well as LOBSE and rail maintenance specialists.

In a phone call with ZDNet Korea, Principal Researcher Jeong Woo-tae said, “We received an LOI (Letter of Intent) from Siemens Mobility and are currently in negotiations. We expect our system to be deployed on the Thai BTS or MRT in the second half of this year,” adding, “It would be the first case of KRRI supporting an SME’s entry into a global enterprise.”

Researcher Jeong continued, “This demonstration also reflects Siemens’ intent to bring the technology to Germany and the wider European market,” noting, “We anticipate securing a European market foothold and achieving actual market entry.”

According to KRRI, the field demonstration was conducted to incorporate diverse feedback from overseas sites. If an overseas operator decides to adopt the system, it will be built to reflect local requirements.

‘RAILOBSE’ is an automated mobile measurement system that travels along the track, automatically managing the wear condition of operating rails and detecting surface defects using artificial intelligence.

In particular, the ‘rail wear and defect management’ performed by RAILOBSE is an essential maintenance task for railway vehicle operators.

It automates the manual inspections previously carried out by people directly on the track, improving the efficiency of routine track inspection and contributing to the prevention of safety accidents.

Meanwhile, KRRI participated in ‘Asia Pacific Rail 2026,’ recently held in Bangkok. The exhibition is Asia’s largest specialized event for the railway industry.

Principal Researcher Jeong Woo-tae, who leads the project, said, “It is an automation system that replaces manual tasks such as the routine inspections performed by field workers on track rails, based on a compact mobile system,” adding, “We plan to continue research by integrating it with track-inspection field history-management systems and AI detection technology.”

KRRI President Sa Gong-myeong stated, “This is a representative research achievement for the global expansion of accident-prevention technology,” and added, “We will continue to do our utmost to advance railway maintenance, safety, and prevention technologies into the global market.”

KRRI showcased RAILOBSE at the Asia Pacific Rail exhibition in Thailand. The research team posed for a commemorative photo with visitors. (Photo: Korea Railroad Research Institute)

Source: ZDNet Korea – Reporter Park Hee-beom (hbpark@zdnet.co.kr) View original