A concept diagram illustrating the use of the ADAS developed by Hyundai Rotem for rail vehicles [Hyundai Rotem]
A concept diagram illustrating the use of the ADAS developed by Hyundai Rotem for rail vehicles [Hyundai Rotem]

Hyundai Rotem announced Thursday that it has developed an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) tailored specifically for rail vehicles.

The rail ADAS detects obstacles on tracks by accounting for rail conditions and operating environments, then alerts drivers to hazardous situations to prevent collisions.

Hyundai Rotem began developing the rail ADAS in earnest in 2023, when it undertook a hydrogen-electric tram demonstration project — a national initiative overseen by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Since then, the company has continuously refined the technology by integrating AI into the ADAS foundation built through that demonstration project, including developing a collision-prevention algorithm.

Real-world track data played a key role in advancing the technology. Hyundai Rotem fitted sensors to trams operating commercially in Warsaw, Poland, to collect driving data.

The company used that data to repeatedly analyze operating patterns and run hazard simulations, validating both the ADAS technology and its safety performance. It is also refining the user interface and warning system based on feedback from local tram operators. Development is also under way toward linking the ADAS with train control systems.

The lidar unit for rail vehicles carries a high-performance sensor capable of seeing more than 100 meters ahead, allowing it to assess comprehensively whether an obstacle is a person, whether that person is likely to step onto the track, or whether the object is simply a stationary structure — and relay that judgment to the driver.

This ADAS development is a necessary step toward enabling trams — which run at street level alongside general public transit — to eventually achieve full autonomous operation. Trams must track and anticipate unexpected hazards entering the track across a range of conditions, including straight sections, curves and junctions. This is what technically distinguishes tram autonomy from that of subways, where people cannot access or are unlikely to enter the tracks and which already operate as driverless systems.

Hyundai Rotem plans to continue developing its own autonomous driving technology with a focus on capturing export markets. The company is particularly targeting the export of ADAS-equipped rail vehicles to Taiwan, which applies rigorous technical verification standards, and will concentrate on securing the technology's maturity and reliability.

"Thanks to the government's full support and close cooperation between the public and private sectors, we were able to proactively develop autonomous driving technology that is emerging as a core competitive edge in the future rail market," a Hyundai Rotem official said. "We will continue to invest in research and development to lead the global market with domestically developed physical AI technology and drive innovation in rail safety."

Meanwhile, Hyundai Rotem recently held its 2026 Hyundai Rotem Rail Solution Win-Win Cooperation Conference at its Changwon factory in South Gyeongsang Province, where it unveiled strategies to expand financial support for partner companies and broaden joint overseas expansion efforts.


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