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FMT successfully trialled TRES (Train Examination System) for Dubai Metro with Keolis MHI to automate a range of undeframe inspections proving measurable gains in personnel safety and operational efficiency.
Keolis MHI operates the Dubai Metro Green and Red Lines under contract to the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) Dubai. They manage one of the world’s longest fully automated metro systems, managing one of the world’s longest fully automated metro systems. Maintaining the safety and reliability of the metro’s rolling stock demands rigorous, routine inspection of train underframes within a working environment that requires access to confined spaces in close proximity to electrical and mechanical systems, often within tightly constrained maintenance windows. Traditional manual inspection methods are
FMT sucessfully trialled TRES (Train Examination System) at Dubai Metro’s maintenance facility under a structured pilot program. TRES is purpose-built for autonomous underframe inspection of rail vehicles. It uses FMT’s LiDAR, laser, and optical sensor technologies to capture detailed 3D models of train components and perform a wide range of critical measurements. TRES is fully autonomous, requires no civil works, no modifications to existing maintenance facilities, and no isolation of electrical or mechanical systems during inspections.
The TRES pilot programme was successfully completed in May 2023, validating the system’s capability to autonomously perform essential rolling stock inspections on the Dubai Metro fleet. TRES demonstrated the ability to automate up to 70% of underframe inspection tasks, confirming measurement accuracy and repeatability across five critical inspection types. Throughout the pilot, TRES operated without any requirement for electrical or mechanical system isolation, and without modification to the existing maintenance facility, removing traditional barriers to deploying autonomous inspection technology in an active metro environment.
Rail operators worldwide face growing pressure to maintain ageing rolling stock safely and efficiently, while navigating a global shortage of skilled maintenance technicians and increasing expectations around service reliability. Train underframe inspection is inherently hazardous: technicians work in confined spaces beneath carriages in close proximity to live electrical and mechanical systems, typically within tight maintenance windows. It is also one of the most resource-intensive and risk-prone activities in rail maintenance. The successful completion of the TRES pilot program with Keolis MHI on the Dubai Metro demonstrates that fully autonomous rolling stock inspection is a proven, deployable capability that eliminates safety risks, reduces manual workload, and generates the high-quality, repeatable data that modern predictive maintenance strategies demand.
TRES (Train Examination System) is an autonomous rolling stock inspection robot developed by Future Maintenance Technologies (FMT). It navigates beneath train carriages without human operators, using LiDAR, laser, and optical sensor technologies to capture detailed 3D models of underframe components and perform critical measurements including wheel profiles, brake block thickness, gearbox oil levels, bolt torque marks, and collector shoe dimensions. TRES requires no civil works and no modifications to existing maintenance facilities.
TRES demonstrated the ability to automate up to 70% of underframe inspection tasks. Inspections are configurable and can be tailored to specific rolling stock types and maintenance requirements.
TRES uses FMT’s proprietary LiDAR, laser, and optical sensor technologies to capture detailed 3D models of train components and perform a wide range of critical inspections. TRES is able to be configured to a range of inspection types based on clients individual requirements.
No. TRES requires no civil works, no modifications to existing maintenance facilities, and no isolation of electrical or mechanical systems during inspections. The system deploys within standard maintenance depots without disrupting existing operations.
Autonomous train inspection eliminates the need for technicians to enter confined spaces beneath carriages in close proximity to live electrical and mechanical systems. Traditional manual underframe inspection is one of the most hazardous activities in rail maintenance. By deploying TRES, operators remove personnel from these risk environments entirely, freeing personnel to perform digital inspections with accuracy and reliability.
FMT’s solutions are currently active with Melbourne Metro, Dubai Metro, Copenhagen Metro, Etihad Rail, among others.
Future Maintenance Technologies (FMT) is an Australian AI robotics company founded in 2021, headquartered in Brisbane. FMT couples autonomous inspection robots with powerful AI software platforms for the global rail and aviation maintenance industry. The company's technology replaces manual inspection processes with autonomous robots, reducing costs, improving safety, and generating premium-quality data for predictive maintenance. FMT operates a robotics-as-a-service model and has worked with multiple Tier 1 organisations including Downer, Queensland Rail and Rio Tinto in Australia. Globally, FMT has worked with Keolis MHI (Dubai), Metro A/S (Copenhagen), Etihad Rail (Abu Dhabi), as well as Deutsche Bahn and Lufthansa (Germany). FMT completed its Series A funding round led by Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) and Brighter Super.
