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RFID Solutions are worth every penny of investment in railway logistic

What does the acronym AEI mean?


AEI. Three letter for the acronym Automatic Equipment Identification, which is the electronic recognition system in use in the North American railway industry that, on its turn, uses RF technology in order to identify railway equipment during their routes.  RCCS, four letter for the acronym Railway Components Control System, also known as AEI.

Only one more letter, just a question of naming? Not exactly. The fact is that the RCCS is completer and more considered more encompassing — and that is what I am going to explain in this article, by showing how, from the very beginning, we can have a better understanding of these three or four letters. Here we go.


A railway logistics company can possess hundreds of locomotives of several models that need different types of maintenance, also in different timetables. Many times, these same companies also possess hundreds of wagons, also of the most different types, ages and conditions, and that also need maintenance. Besides knowing when to have the maintenance of these precious assets carried out, it is also necessary to know on which segment of the railway each one of them is located, and what each one of them is transporting. This control can be purely made via control software at the OCC (Operating Control Center), via cameras possessing devices of automatic identification or even GPS (Global Positioning System). However, since having implemented hundreds of these systems all over the world, I can say that none of them is as reliable as the control by TAGs with the RFID technology (acronym for Radio-Frequency IDentification), which is nothing more than the control by small metallic labels containing small internal electronic circuits that, being stimulated by an electromagnetic field, broadcast recorded information on the  ID of each wagon, their size, model, number of axes and whatever is necessary to be identified.


How it works?


In practice, this is how it works: along the railway, antennae and readers are installed that identify when a railway convoy passes by that segment, on its turn identifying each one of its components and broadcasting these pieces of information to the Control Center. The best technologies have a margin of practically zero per cent (or 0.01%, to be precise). These TAGs, or magnetic labels, have an incredible duration of 300 years (the best brands of them), do not require maintenance, since they do not need batteries, and are the only way how the control centers can know for sure where their assets are in the railways and to extract numberless performance indicators so as to improve the productivity of the logistics system.


The companies that are most concerned and proactive with regards to their assets and goals possess labels inclusively in the COMPONENTS (hence the extra letter, and that make all the difference, in the RCCS acronym) of the wagons and locomotives, such as axes (wheelsets), wheels and [other] parts of the train. With that, it is possible to know, without a shadow of a doubt, which is the axis of a certain wagon that has already run so many thousands of miles and need to undergo maintenance before it breaks and ends up causing a railway accident. This is the RCCS, the Railway Components Control System, which should be adopted by major logistics companies and miners that need to have their products transported via railway networks. The problem lies on the fact that most of them fail to do so, or, when they do, they make use of low-cost and quality-TAGs, losing the control of their assets after their first years (if not months) of use.


The reliability of the use of only control software or cameras is extremely low. By the way, the use of cameras in railways is undoubtedly the first system to fail on account of the hostile environment of the railway networks (intense vibration and dust). And the use of GPS (Global Positioning System) is still expensive and lacks precision for the application of the AEI or RCCS. First of all, because it requires the use of a battery, and secondly, because its use would be limited to the locomotives, since it is impossible to place a GPS on an axis of a wagon.

A railway compound implies huge investments and the loads it transports is also too valuable not to think of having a complete control of assets. In addition to this, taking into account that they are the best technologies existing so far, the RFID solutions are incredibly cheap and are worth every penny of the investment. Here are my two cents!


* Wilson Antunes is an entrepreneur and specialist in metro railway automation, and Engineer graduated by the Polytechnical School of the University of São Paulo (Poli-USP), as well as Business Administration by the Getúlio Vargas Foundation.

* * * 
Allameda.com – Press Relations Office & Communication 
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A Retrospective on the Evolution of Railway AEI Technologies: From the 1980s to 2024

By Wilson Antunes • December 6, 2024
Automatic Equipment Identification (AEI) is a vital development for the railway sector, enabling the automated identification and monitoring of assets such as railcars and locomotives. This technology optimizes resources, lowers costs, and improves operational accuracy and efficiency. The Pre-Digital Era and Manual Identification at the Inception of AEI The railway sector used manual processes like spreadsheets and paper records before automation. These techniques lacked scalability, were slow, and were prone to human error. Automation was unavoidable due to the need for more effective solutions, which signaled the start of the industry's technological transformation. The First Automated Solutions: Barcode Automation began with the advent of barcodes in the 1970s. Although the technology improved precision and dependability, it had operational drawbacks, such as the requirement for optical readers that were properly calibrated, which limited its use in challenging railroad settings. In 1967, the colorful barcode system known as KarTrak, or KarTrak ACI (Automatic Car Identification), was deployed in North America to track railcars automatically. Although initially adopted, it was abandoned by 1977 due to technical problems such as dirt buildup on labels, inadequate maintenance, and low reliability. The system's failure brought to light the difficulties the railroad industry had in implementing computerized tracking, which caused more developments to be postponed until the 1980s. AEI's RFID Wave By enabling contactless, in-motion reading, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transformed AEI in the 1980s. With readers placed in strategic locations and transponders mounted on railcars, the system guaranteed increased effectiveness, longevity, and minimal maintenance expenses. RFID is included into Intertechrail's state-of-the-art solutions, which include personalized tracking and monitoring systems that adhere to international standards set by the Association of American Railroads (AAR). Technological Developments: Cloud-Based Solutions and IoT With the incorporation of cloud-based platforms and the Internet of Things (IoT) starting in 2010, AEI changed. Real-time monitoring, maintenance predictions, and the use of big data to optimize operations are made possible by solutions such as those offered by Intertechrail. These technologies improve the industry's level of efficiency by tracking location as well as load and railcar characteristics. Expanded AEI and Intelligent Tracking Systems in the Modern Era Nowadays, AEI incorporates sensors that detect pressure, temperature, and weight in real time, going beyond simple identification. Operations are safer and more transparent when advanced automation is paired with blockchain technology for secure data capture. Intertechrail systems are a prime example of this development, introducing innovation and dependability to rail transportation worldwide. Impact on the Railway Sector By cutting expenses, improving logistical effectiveness, and avoiding operating disruptions, AEI has revolutionized the railway industry. Technologies that minimize maintenance and operational failures have also improved safety, while resource and route optimization has lessened the environmental impact of the sector. AEI's Future in the Railway Industry With compatible technologies linking international railway networks, AEI is heading toward complete automation. In addition to predicting failures, artificial intelligence also claims to foresee market trends and requests. Leading this development are businesses such as Intertechrail, who are creating solutions that will influence the railway industry's future. By transforming the railway sector from its primitive practices to the sophisticated technologies of today, AEI has raised the bar for sustainability, efficiency, and safety. A Trusted Partner in Railway Progress Intertechrail has been actively involved in the technological advancement of the railway industry for more than 20 years. One of our main fields of expertise is creating and implementing AEI solutions, which are always in line with the requirements of a market that is continually changing. Our dedication throughout the years has been to deliver systems that not only meet but also surpass the demands of contemporary rail transportation, helping to create a more connected, safe, and effective future. Ready to take the next step in railway innovation? Contact out team today to learn how our AEI solutions can drive your operations forward and help shape the future of rail transportation.
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