CargoBeamer is launching a new research and development project for automatic wagon inspection in cooperation with its partners Fraunhofer IML and SGKV. The aim is to speed up the inspection process with AI and digitalisation. The project is scheduled to finish in summer 2026.
The vision for now is to use camera AI systems to inspect wagons at terminals, a CargoBeamer spokesperson explains to RailFreight.com. Then, data is sent to an app automatically for a check by the wagon inspector. “That is the idea now at the start of the project”, he says. However, things might be subject to change as they unfold, the spokesperson acknowledges.
As the “Digital Inspection by Machine Intelligence” (DIMI) project is still in its initial stages, a lot remains unclear. This includes the implementability of the system to be developed. “The goal is to make this technology widely available, that is our vision”, the CargoBeamer spokesperson says. “But as an R&D project, we cannot say exactly what we will have by the end.”
Automatic wagon inspection in under 60 minutes
Nevertheless, the goal remains to significantly speed up wagon inspection procedures. “We want to carry out a wagon inspection in under 60 minutes instead of several hours in the medium term – an important step towards promoting the competitiveness of rail over road”, CargoBeamer’s chief technology officer says in a press release.
The cooperation between the three companies combines their expertise from various fields. CargoBeamer provides knowledge in terminal construction, automation and sensor technology. Fraunhofer IML has the know-how in artificial intelligence and software, and SGKV is responsible for project management and process analysis.
“Both Fraunhofer IML and SGKV benefit from past projects that have researched and advanced the automation and digitalisation of individual tasks of the wagon master”, CargoBeamer says. “This holistic approach is intended to significantly accelerate the wagon inspection process as part of the DIMI project.”
Completion in 2026
The DIMI project is part of Germany’s federal program ‘Future Rail Freight Transport’ (‘Zukunft Schienengüterverkehr’). It receives funding from the German federal transport ministry of around 1 million euros. With a total duration of 27 months, it is scheduled for completion in summer 2026.