Innovation

Our commitment to the future

At CAF, our vision for the future is committed to the major challenges of mobility: decarbonisation and demographic changes. We drive this commitment through innovation, one of the pillars of our Strategic Plan.

Innovation strategies

At CAF, we believe innovation is key, which is why it is one of the four pillars of our Strategic Plan. This approach not only drives innovation but also supports and enhances the other pillars, commercial focus, operational efficiency, and sustainability, to ensure our sustainable long-term growth.

To realise this vision, our innovation projects must have a real impact. That’s why we developed our Innovation Strategy to combine our customers' current and future needs, global trends, and technological advancements. These and other important elements help us create the roadmaps that guide our strategy.

We understand innovation is essential to the entire strategy

Innovation model

This model is developed around innovation programs that respond to market sustainability trends and needs and the group’s strategic technology centres of excellence.

In this context of continuous change, an open approach to innovation is vital.

CAF's Open Innovation promotes collaboration with external stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, universities, research institutions, startups, investors, and even competitors.

CAF Startup Station's mission is to generate competitive advantages through interaction with startups and innovative companies via a client-supplier relationship.

Direct impact can be achieved by improving the efficiency of existing processes or increasing the value of CAF's products and services.

Mobility trends

Supported by current major social and technological trends, mobility is evolving rapidly. At CAF, we focus on technological innovation to develop sustainable mobility that is adapted to passenger needs.

TENDENCIES

Zero-emission

As society demands more sustainable transportation solutions, rail, which is already environmentally friendly, can further reduce its carbon footprint through new technologies. Technological innovation will enable:

A full transition to zero-emission propulsion solutions.

An evolution of catenary-free tram solutions, facilitating their integration into urban environments.

A reduction in the energy consumption of rail transport.

Autonomous and automatic mobility

Smart mobility will benefit operators significantly and make railways more attractive to passengers. Automatic and autonomous train operations will increase capacity, efficiency, and punctuality and offer a smooth door-to-door travel experience. This requires adapting and implementing emerging technologies such as:

High-integrity communications and train positioning.

Computer vision and advanced perception and decision-making systems.

Digitisation of trains and infrastructure.

Evolution of autonomous and automatic mobility

CAF believes in a future of mobility based on intelligent and autonomous vehicles capable of managing unexpected events independently, with flexibility, and with much lower complexity and infrastructure costs.

Digitisation

Digitisation in the rail system is key to the development of new mobility trends. It will allow the generation of new digital services and businesses that will revolutionise mobility as we know it.

Innovation focus on digitisation

Digitisation is an ongoing, all-encompassing transformation process.

The new developments aim to increase the quantity and quality of captured data, implement new communication technologies, and develop algorithms capable of integrating the physical modelling of systems with advanced analysis of measured data, using AI to create ‘digital twins’ of the train.

Our vision of innovation in digitisation:

Aims to transform all phases of the product and service value chain in a coordinated way.

Is carried out by developing and combining multiple technologies that complement each other and provide differentiating advantages.

Articles of interest

Technologies for innovation

Artificial intelligence and global connectivity are redefining the limits of what is possible and creating opportunities for innovation. At CAF, we see these technologies as a great way to drive competitiveness, sustainable development, and the continuous evolution of our products.

CAF has created a technological ecosystem that combines internal knowledge with external collaborations, including universities, technology centres, customers, and suppliers.

Simulations and virtual certification

Digital twins and virtual validation and certification processes significantly reduce or eliminate physical tests as homologation requirements, reducing costs and timelines and increasing competitiveness.

Simulation models cover a range of core technologies, including acoustics, vibrations, structural integrity, dynamics and rolling, fluids (aerodynamics, climate control, thermal modelling), and EMC (electromagnetic compatibility).

Communications and cybersecurity

Communications are transforming many aspects of modern life, including mobility systems. New concepts such as automatic and autonomous transit, as well as Mobility as a Service (MaaS), rely on an ultra-connected transportation ecosystem. Emerging technologies like 5G and V2X facilitate new comprehensive mobility solutions.

As transportation is a critical industry, cybersecurity is essential at all stages, from product design to operation. CAF uses cutting-edge technologies to ensure its products and services meet the most demanding cybersecurity standards.

Perception technologies

Computer vision is a transversal enabler for functions such as the automation of visual inspections, improving safety inside trains and stations, and detecting signals and obstacles in autonomous vehicles.

Fusion with data from multispectral cameras, Lidar, Radar, and inertial sensors overcomes the limitations of the visible spectrum.

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence has transformed vehicle design, operation, energy management, and maintenance, optimising processes and driving innovation. Advanced algorithms allow us to predict trends, improving our decision-making.

AI combines CAF’s expert knowledge with advanced physical modelling and mathematical and statistical insights to integrate into data-driven environments.

Data and digital platform

Data is revolutionising the mobility sector in CAF's digital platform. Focussed on efficiency, reliability, and innovation, we use data to transform how we conceive, design, maintain, and operate mobility solutions.

Data is the soul of the mobility industry, so our platform integrates state-of-the-art technology to collect, integrate, process, and analyse data from multiple sources, such as vehicles, infrastructure, environmental data, and processes.

Discover LeadMind.

Energy efficiency

Improving energy efficiency and alternative propulsion systems are the pillars of CAF's vehicle decarbonisation.

Silicon carbide, storage and hydrogen technologies, along with energy optimisation systems both onboard and offline, enable highly efficient designs.

CAF's DASEM system (Driver Advisory System & Energy Management) is the result of advancements and studies conducted with energy efficiency tools and simulations translated into the onboard SW product.

Driving assistance, power source management and auxiliary management are essential in all types of vehicles, especially multimodal and hybrid vehicles.

IPAR positioning system

The evolution of communications with greater bandwidth and low latency has changed the management of safe railway operations. It is now possible to minimise or eliminate beacons so vehicles can safely report their exact position and speed in real time.

The IPAR positioning system combines various technologies to compensate for the limitations of each, achieving robust, reliable, and secure functionality.