The Moscow Metro has started testing driverless trains with plans for then to start carrying passengers from next year.

During the past six months, an experimental driverless train has travelled over 4000km along the Big Circle Line without passengers.

An AI system automatically accelerates and brakes the train, opens and closes doors, and monitors the schedule. To ensure safety during testing and as required by law, a driver is present in the cab, but during the entire testing period, the driver has not yet had to intervene in the automated system.

The automatic control system handles acceleration, braking, maintaining the permitted speed and stopping the train on the platform with an accuracy of 30cm, which is comparable with that of professional train drivers.

A machine vision system recognises objects and obstacles along the route at a distance of up to 200m. The technology is based on lidar, with sensors providing 360-degree coverage. This enables the AI to create a 3D map of the route in real time and pinpoint the location of objects within its field of view with an accuracy of up to 2cm.

Data are transmitted to the computing unit via a high-speed, secure communication channel. This allows the train to respond instantly to any changes in the environment, improving safety and a smooth ride for future passengers.

Before the train begins carrying passengers, IT specialists at MTTech (mttech.moscow), who develop and support the software, must ensure the technology is 100% safe and reliable. This includes interaction with the control centre in real time. The train automatically transmits key parameters: speed, location, train number and route. This allows for a quick response to any changes on the line. In the future, the intelligent system will be able to independently calculate and adjust train schedules.

The first driverless metro train rides with passengers is planned for 2027 and, by 2030, the Big Circle Line will become the first fully driverless Moscow Metro line. All 94 trains operating on the Big Circle Line will be automated. For more information, see news.metro.ru.

“Following successful testing, Moscow will be ready to share advanced technologies with the regions, helping develop and improve the safety of urban transport throughout the country,” said Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin in his blog (www.sobyanin.ru/polgoda-ispytanii-bespilotnogo-metro).