Summary
- Profile Type
- Technology offer
- POD Reference
- TOFR20250404021
- Term of Validity
- 4 April 2025 - 4 April 2026
- Company's Country
- France
- Type of partnership
- Commercial agreement with technical assistance
- Targeted Countries
- All countries
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General information
- Short Summary
- The French welding and research institute with expertise in research and development, tests and control focusing on welding techniques is looking for business partners for its advanced railway monitoring system under commercial agreement with technical assistance.
- Full Description
-
Created in 1905, the French Research Institute is recognised as the technical reference in France in the fields of welding, related techniques, assembly, associated controls, and monitoring.
The research institute developed an advanced railway monitoring system. This solution is designed to optimize railway surveillance performance and recommend appropriate maintenance actions.
Other railway monitoring technologies have shown limited effectiveness in crack detection and defect tracking. These include:
• Electrical continuity measurement
• Optical fiber along the tracks
• Sensors integrated into railcars
• Manual inspections or automated control using rolling stock
These approaches have not demonstrated sufficient reliability.
The French research institute developed a system which relies on guided ultrasonic wave sensors, a technology already proven in other industries. This approach is coupled with an original algorithm, ensuring precise and reliable defect detection.
These sensors are integrated into connected IoT devices capable of generating the necessary diagnostic data. However, the data collected is complex and requires:
- Remote transmission via networks
- Signal processing to extract critical information
- Machine Learning (AI) to learn defect signatures and track their evolution
The data processing aspect is crucial, both in handling large volumes and in advanced analysis, where conventional tools quickly reach their limits.
Key Application
The system is particularly effective in open tracks, tunnels, and level crossings, enabling:
- Corrosion and crack detection
- Fracture detection under level crossing deck structures
- Crack detection in humid tunnels
- Loosening detection of rail joints in critical zones
This innovative monitoring solution enhances railway safety and predictive maintenance, ensuring early detection and optimized interventions.
The French research institute is looking for long term business partners interested in the technology and looking for new solutions to add to their product/service portfolio. They offer commercial agreement with technical assistance. - Advantages and Innovations
-
Ultrasonic guided wave technology which evaluates on request the internal and external health of the rail.
Ensures maximum security for using tracks while reducing manual monitoring operations.
It implements connected sensors associated with smart algorithms, which can detect the emergence or the evolution of disparities of a few millimetres. - Stage of Development
- Available for demonstration
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- IPR status
- IPR granted
Partner Sought
- Expected Role of a Partner
-
We are looking for a partner to support the marketing, communication, installation, and potential industrialization of our railway monitoring system.
The ideal partner should have expertise in:
- Market deployment of innovative railway technologies
- Communication and promotion to key stakeholders (railway operators, infrastructure managers, etc.)
- Installation and integration of IoT-based monitoring solutions
- Industrialization and large-scale production of sensor-based systems
Their goal is to collaborate with a partner capable of accelerating commercialization and deployment while ensuring seamless integration into railway infrastructure. - Type and Size of Partner
- Big company
- SME 11-49
- SME 50 - 249
- Type of partnership
- Commercial agreement with technical assistance
Dissemination
- Technology keywords
- 02008004 - Railway Transport
- 02009007 - Artificial intelligence applications for cars and transport
- 02006005 - Construction maintenance and monitoring methods & equipment
- 01004011 - Maintenance Management System
- Market keywords
- 08001012 - Speciality metals (including processes for working with metals)
- 07001002 - Amusement and recreational facilities
- 01004007 - Network test, monitoring and support equipment
- 09003001 - Engineering services
- 09001007 - Other transportation
- Targeted countries
- All countries