SAMIRA2.0 research project

Partners & cooperations

Project partners

IKADO GmbH

The IT company IKADO was founded in 1989 and offers a portfolio of services in the areas of system integration, application development and consulting. In order to recognize market trends at an early stage and to transfer them into its own product portfolio, IKADO has been intensively involved in research and development activities since 2017, in which IKADO has often taken on the position of consortium leader, too.

Thanks to extensive digitalization projects in the field of rail vehicles, IKADO is an expert in the areas of environment recognition, obstacle detection, navigation, interface specification and development, real-time data processing and transmission was well as AI development.

IKADO within the SAMIRA project

Within the SAMIRA2.0 project, IKADO is responsible for consortium- and project management. This means that the administrative tasks include communication with the funding body, project management with all partners and keeping to the budget and the agreed objectives as well as the preparation of reports and other project documentation.

During project implementation, IKADO focuses to continue the entire further development of the demonstrator software from the predecessor project SAMIRA, as well as testing and validation of the new generated overall system. IKADO is also supporting the system-tests in real-life use both in the industrial shunting area and in the railroad's digital 5G test field in the Ore Mountains.

IKADO also works on revising the sensor concept based on the results of the previous project, develops safe, reliable and optimized software for data evaluation and signal transmission and finally adapts the software to the hardware platform which has been chosen to enable prototypical use in a real harsh environment.

In addition, IKADO is also responsible for developing the AI for object recognition in the last mile by the further development of existing AIs according to the special cases within the rail environment.

As part of its public relations work, IKADO creates and maintains the project website and organizes suitable project events and PR activities following the progress of the project.

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Technische Universität Chemnitz

Chemnitz University of Technology is a cosmopolitan university with strong regional, national, and international networks. It employs around 2,300 people in science and administration, and has more than 8,600 students from over 90 countries. This makes it the third-largest university in Saxony. The SAMIRA2.0 project is being carried out at Chemnitz University of Technology as part of the "Smart Rail Connectivity Campus" (SRCC) project. The SRCC project aims to establish a globally visible research and development facility at the Annaberg-Buchholz site. There, research, development, and innovation will focus on digitally connected, automated, and sustainable mobility that is economically, ecologically, and socially effective and efficient. Chemnitz University of Technology, the city of Annaberg-Buchholz, and many other network partners will collaborate on this project. Due to the participation of professorships from many faculties at the Center for Knowledge and Technology Transfer, the SRCC is located at Chemnitz University of Technology as a central institution. The Chair of Communications Engineering at Chemnitz University of Technology is also involved in the SAMIRA 2.0 project.

TU Chemnitz within the SAMIRA project

Within the project, Chemnitz University of Technology is working on tasks related to reliable communication, particularly 5G communication. The sub-project aims to investigate guaranteed bandwidths that can be reliably provided without signal loss in dedicated 5G networks, as well as during transitions between private and public 5G networks.

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Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG (Associated partner)

With thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG in Duisburg, the largest steel manufacturer in Germany has been won as an associated partner for the next development phase of the SAMIRA project. With around 90 locomotives, tkSE is Europe's largest plant railway operator, too. A total rail network of around 420 kilometers stretches across the company premises. In addition, with a transport volume of 142 million kilometers per year, the company railroad is the second largest logistics provider of the country and provides 55,000 shunting movements every month (!).

Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG within the SAMIRA project

Thanks to the partnership with tkSE, it is possible to test and verify the components and systems at various stages during the SAMIRA2.0 development in a highly industrial, harsh environment in real operation even at an early phase of the project.

For this purpose, tkSE provides a shunting locomotive or a small train unit to which the corresponding sensors can be attached. tkSE also provides the train engineer and organizes the test runs within their ongoing operations. The sensor and system data recorded during the real-life test drives is later being used in the laboratory for the further development of the the algorithms and AI.

The large industrial buildings and the extensive track yards with track ladders up to 45 nearby tracks pose an enormous challenge for track-selective positioning and reliable environment and obstacle detection on using SAMIRA2.0.

In addition, tkSE is also an important and valuable contact for all questions relating to railroad technology, such as operational safety and health and safety at work, signaling technology, environmental requirements and general operational processes, regulations and guidelines.

Cooperation partners

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ENSYTEC GmbH

ENSYTEC GmbH is a medium-sized company based in North Rhine-Westphalia, specializing in the development and delivery of customized testing and inspection systems as well as comprehensive engineering services for machinery and plant construction. Its range of services covers everything from design and assembly to the commissioning of complex systems.

ENSYTEC supports clients across various industries – including rail vehicle, steel and crane construction, as well as climate and ventilation technology – using state-of-the-art hardware and software to ensure the highest quality standards. At the core of its philosophy is a trusted partnership built on enthusiasm, reliability, and adherence to deadlines. Through innovative solutions and sustainable processes, ENSYTEC helps implement projects efficiently and with a future-oriented approach.

As part of the SAMIRA2.0 research project, ENSYTEC GmbH is responsible for key development tasks to integrate the SAMIRAmobil sensor module into railway operations. This includes the design of a rail-compliant housing that meets the stringent requirements for safety, durability, and weather resistance in rail transport.

In addition, ENSYTEC is developing the power supply system for the sensor module to ensure reliable and autonomous energy provision under varying operating conditions. Another focus is the development of a universal mounting system that enables flexible and secure installation of the sensor module on all common wagon types.

With these solutions, ENSYTEC makes a significant contribution to ensuring the practical applicability and efficiency of the SAMIRA2.0 system in real-world railway operations.

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Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT

The Fraunhofer IPT creates system solutions for the networked, adaptive production of sustainable and resource-saving products and related services. Our focus lies in the areas of process technology, production machines, production quality and metrology, and technology management, and ranges from fundamental principles up to the digital transformation of production.

We develop and optimize new and existing methods, technologies and processes for the production of the future. In this context, we understand production not only in its individual steps, but in the entirety of all processes and connections between the links of the process chain. In this way, we develop both highly specialized individual technologies and networked system solutions for production on behalf of our customers.

The Fraunhofer IPT's clients and cooperation partners come from the entire manufacturing industry: from aviation and space technology, the energy sector, automotive engineering and its suppliers in lightweight production or tool and mold making, machine tools, precision engineering and the optical industry, as well as medical technology, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.

Currently, around 535 employees work at the Fraunhofer IPT. In Aachen, we have a total area of 9000 m² at our disposal. Of this, around 5000 m² is used as laboratories and machine halls.

Through the Fraunhofer Center for Manufacturing Innovation CMI in Boston, USA, we also offer our customers sustainable technology transfer between European and American industry.

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Blickfeld GmbH

Founded in 2017 and based in Munich, Blickfeld GmbH develops innovative LiDAR sensors that provide real-time 3D data for the digitalization and automation of numerous applications. As an internationally acting company, Blickfeld offers solutions for volume detection, people counting, security applications and autonomous smart mobility functions.

For the SAMIRA2.0 project, Blickfeld supplies precise 3D sensor technology for the SAMIRAmobil multi-sensor module.

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Havelländische Eisenbahn AG (HVLE)

Havelländische Eisenbahn AG (HVLE) is a private railway transport and infrastructure company founded in 1892 as AG Osthavelländische Kreisbahnen in Nauen, Brandenburg, and operating under its current name since 2006. Headquartered in Wustermark-Elstal, the company employs more than 350 people across five locations and focuses on freight transport, in particular lime and calcium haulage, alongside construction logistics, workshop services, siding operations, and rail consulting.

HVLE operates the Wustermark marshalling yard – the largest privately-run public rail yard in Germany – as well as the adjacent test field at the BahnTechnologie Campus Havelland, comprising around 22 hectares of rail infrastructure and roughly 31 km of track, some of it electrified.

For the SAMIRA2.0 project, HVLE provides access to this test site and its infrastructure, allowing the SAMIRAmobil sensor module to be trialed and validated under real-world rail operating conditions. As a licensed railway operator (EVU), HVLE also advises the project team from an operational perspective, contributing practical requirements from day-to-day rail operations and feedback on the handling and real-world usability of the sensor module.