Case Study: Uncompromising Safety and Uptime with Austrian Federal Railways

A prime example is our collaboration with the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) on vegetation maintenance in their electrical substations. Conventional maintenance in such an environment requires a complete operational shutdown, leading to enormous logistical complications and financial losses. Our autonomous machine can operate safely in this high-risk area, even under high voltage. The human operator remains at a safe distance while railway operations continue uninterrupted.

Cybersecurity: A Digital Shield for Critical Infrastructure

Deploying an autonomous machine weighing several hundred kilograms within critical infrastructure like an airport or a substation is unthinkable without 100% cybersecurity. Any unauthorized control could have catastrophic consequences. That is why we have equipped our system with robust security measures. We utilize Cisco’s Splunk solution to monitor all data streams. This system detects any behavioral anomalies in real-time and, if a threat is suspected, immediately suspends autonomous operation. It is this level of security that allows us to earn the trust of partners for deployment in the most sensitive environments.

Dual Protection: Safeguarding People and Property

Our technology not only protects human lives but also the infrastructure itself. Thanks to a combination of radar, lidar, and intelligent algorithms, the machine navigates with precision and actively avoids all obstacles, eliminating the risk of damage to expensive equipment or structures. For us at Smaut, safety isn’t an add-on feature; it is the very foundation upon which our autonomous systems are built.