Research & Development

Ansaldo STS has always focused on R&D activities aimed at identifying and realizing innovative technical solutions for developing already existing or brand-new products in order to operate at international level in compliance with the highest qualitative standards as requested by a market which is affected by rapid technological evolution. In particular, the Signaling Unit currently employs more than about 300 employees in R&D in dedicated teams who work together on specific projects.
 
From 2003 to 2005, the Signaling Unit invested € 73.5 million in R&D, approximately equal to 4% of its turnover and in recent years it has developed a considerable quantity of new products/solutions which have led to over 70 patents registered in various countries, while 15 more soon being registered.
 
The main products that Ansaldo STS has invented and has been developing in recent years are the following:
 
The OTP , Optimizing Traffic Planner™, an innovative network traffic optimization system which allows the rechanneling and rescheduling of traffic over a network in real time in order to increase transit speed, optimize network efficiency, and identify the briefest and most efficient route for each train according to previously recorded targets per train. The OTP system allows a considerable increase in network capacity, at the same time reducing operational costs.
 
Ansaldo STS has also developed the CBTC  technology, Communications Based Traffic Control, which bases underground transit control systems in a wireless manner in compliance with international standards. Our CBTC infrastructure employs an 'open architecture' that is flexible in its modular assembly and easily adaptable as an overlay solution to existing systems. CBTC by Ansaldo STS optimizes different modes during daily revenues minimizing performance functions such as headways, power consumption or the time needed to clear a heavily crowded station after a special event such as a football match or a concert.
 
Ansaldo STS CBTC allows to maintain peak operations with existing infrastructure while upgrades are being implemented. In addition, mixed traffic operations (that is, the running of CBTC-equipped and non-equipped vehicles simultaneously) are also possible. This way, fleets can be equipped in stages without limiting operations until upgrades are complete.
 
Ansaldo STS CBTC is completely scalable, easily allowing future extensions or modifications as your traffic needs change.
 
ERTMS, the European Rail Traffic Management System, a new interoperable signaling system for Europe and beyond. Founding member of UNISIG, Ansaldo STS has contributed form the very beginning to the development and implementation worldwide of the most advanced railway signaling system there is. Today, Ansaldo STS has applied ERTMS signaling systems to High Speed lines in Italy, France, Spain and Germany, but also in conventional lines in China, India, South Korea, Italy, Greece, Romania, Greece, etc.