Artificial intelligence is transforming nearly every industry — including railway transport and safety.
As part of a pioneering research project in this field, IXPERTA developed the iX-Rails Simulator, designed to train neural networks for obstacle detection on railway tracks.
Project Profile:
- Research and development of a functional railway carriage prototype capable of data collection.
- Development of software simulator that generates data for training obstacle detection in simulated conditions.
Project Goal:
To create a functional model of a railway vehicle capable of detecting obstacles along its route using hardware sensors, a sophisticated data processing architecture, and AI-driven identification for real-time interpretation by train operators.
FINANČNÁ PODPORA
Funding & Partners
This project was co-funded with state support from the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic under the TREND 1 program for industrial research and experimental development.
Project Partner:
IT4Innovations National Supercomputing Center, VŠB – Technical University of Ostrava
Duration:
January 1, 2020 – December 31, 2022
Project Output
Functional detection unit prototype and the iX-Rails Simulator.
Simulation Approach
The simulator creates a 3D virtual environment around the railway track, enabling the simulation of train movements under various user-defined conditions. It generates high-quality training data for neural networks, including:
- RGB video sequences
- Infrared camera outputs
- LIDAR point clouds
- GPS positioning and time-stamped synchronization
This allows the modeling of rare but critical events — such as accidents, obstacles, or severe weather — that are difficult to capture under real-world conditions.
What the Simulator Covers
- Hazardous Events Accidents, obstacles, and emergency scenarios
- Weather Conditions Rain, snow, fog, seasonal variations, and environmental impacts
Technological Challenges
- Realistic Rendering Achieved through Blender for accurate AI training datasets.
- Scene Management Custom Blender plug-in for easy object creation and manipulation.
- Rendering Time High-performance rendering using the IT4Innovations supercomputer to handle complex scenarios.
- Sensor Data Rendering Integration of LIDAR and infrared data within Blender.
Technical Solution
IXPERTA used Blender, an open-source 3D graphics and animation software, to build realistic railway environments. Compared to game engines like Unity, Blender provided greater realism and cross-platform compatibility.
The IT4Innovations supercomputer accelerated rendering of complex 3D scenes and large-scale models, making it possible to simulate entire railway sections, such as the Švestková dráha line between Lovosice and Most, and Rovné – Divišov.
Collaboration with IT4Innovations
IT4Innovations contributed its supercomputing power to render complex simulations and generate high-quality datasets for AI training. Terrain elevation, vegetation patterns, train speed profiles, and static/dynamic objects were incorporated to build credible virtual environments.
This collaboration ensured simulation accuracy, speed, and scalability.
Unique Value for Railway Safety
Unlike any existing commercial software, the iX-Rails Simulator can virtually replicate real-world railway conditions — including weather, terrain, and unexpected obstacles — for AI-based detection systems.
This makes it a unique solution for railway safety, enabling:
- Development and validation of advanced obstacle detection algorithms.
- Creation of reusable, high-quality datasets for AI training.
- Faster, more efficient testing of real-world railway scenarios.
About IT4Innovations
IT4Innovations National Supercomputing Center at VŠB – Technical University of Ostrava is a leading European research, development, and innovation hub in high-performance computing, data analysis, and AI. Since 2013, it has operated the most powerful supercomputing systems in the Czech Republic, serving both academic and industrial partners worldwide.
About IXPERTA
For over 30 years, IXPERTA has been a trusted technology partner in enterprise communication, cybersecurity, and software development. Beyond the Czech Republic and Slovakia, IXPERTA delivers innovative solutions to clients across Europe, Asia, and North America.
Our portfolio spans custom IT solutions, infrastructure design, data centers, and secure network operations — always combining technology precision with business value.
Published: 3. September 2025