ASELSAN's domestically developed and manufactured metro signaling system, COBALT, has begun to be used in the Istanbul Airport Metro, Türkiye's fastest metro system.
COBALT is a signaling system based on CBTC (Communication-Based Train Control) technology that determines the precise position of the train independently of the track circuits, through uninterrupted bidirectional communication, while keeping the system safe. This allows for increased distance between trains and greater frequency of service, thereby improving passenger capacity and efficiency.
For over 40 years, ASELSAN has been transferring its expertise and R&D discipline in the defense sector to civilian technologies, and since 2014, it has been conducting national signaling R&D studies with the aim of creating national solutions in this field and competing with foreign companies on a global scale.
ASELSAN has achieved numerous successes through university collaborations, localization efforts, and modular system design, developing COBALT, the first national and domestically designed and manufactured metro signaling system in Turkey.
COBALT was first implemented with Metro İstanbul A.Ş. in the Yenikapı-Otogar-Airport-Kirazlı-Halkalı Metro On-Board Signaling System Supply Project. Subsequently, the COBALT system was also preferred in the Gayrettepe-Istanbul New Airport (GYH) Metro, Halkalı-Istanbul New Airport (HYH) Metro, and Gebze-Darıca Metro lines, which were carried out by the General Directorate of Infrastructure Investments of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure.
COBALT stands out as a safe, efficient, punctual, high-capacity, and environmentally friendly system designed to meet the needs of today's modern and busy urban rail transportation systems.
One of COBALT's most important features is its driverless (GoA4) automation level. This allows the trains to be automatically managed by the control center, enabling functions such as entering and exiting stations, opening and closing doors, and emergency braking to be performed without the need for a driver.
COBALT also offers convenience and flexibility to metro operators by providing full integration with PAKS (Parking and Announcement Control System) and other external systems. COBALT is a system designed in accordance with international standards such as IEEE 1474 and EN 62290, and has SIL4 certification level.
COBALT is a product of ASELSAN's activities in the field of rail systems, and it aims to undertake many more projects in this area.
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