XDNA presents cutting-edge rail technologies to Central Japan Rail team

Downer’s XDNA team recently hosted two executives from the Central Japan Railway Company (CJRC), Yoshikata Tanabe and Naoyuki Ueno, at the Pakenham East Depot in Victoria.

With Japan facing an aging workforce and increasing skills shortage in the rail sector, as an early adopter of advanced automation, CJRC was keen to explore how our technology could support their goals of improved safety, reliability and data accuracy.

This was an exciting opportunity to showcase XDNA’s suite of future works offerings. Driven by innovative autonomous technologies, this included our rail facility drones, train underframe examination system, and Downer-engineered cleaning robots. These solutions are part of our broader effort to deliver smarter, safer and more efficient rail maintenance practices.

Here’s a little more information on what these solutions are all about:

Rail facility drones: Autonomous drones that capture high-resolution imagery for precise rail asset and infrastructure inspections (within rail and across other verticals).
Train underframe examination system: an autonomous robot requiring no facility modifications, automating up to 70% of underframe inspections.
Surface and floor cleaning robots: Robots that clean, detect hazards or vandalism in the carriage, and alert staff – enhancing the efficiency and productivity of cleaning staff.

This collaboration with our partners, Future Maintenance Technologies (FMT) and Deakin University, highlights how we are taking strides in enabling efficient and successful outcomes for rail maintenance, not only in Australia, but globally.

To see our robotics offering in action, check out the video below.