Piper Networks Launches NTSB-Compliant Collision Avoidance Kit
The directive, issued by the NTSB on Sept. 3, 2025, calls for railroads to equip maintenance vehicles with collision avoidance technology that can detect people or objects before a crash. The recommendations were delivered to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), all Class 1 railroads, and other associations, including the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA).
Piper’s flagship Limits Compliance and Collision Avoidance System (LCCAS) is currently installed on more than 800 maintenance vehicles in the U.S., most operating in Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor (NEC), the company noted. The system integrates GPS with Real-Time Kinematics (RTK), advanced LiDAR, and Ultra-Wideband sensors to provide precise positioning of rail bound vehicles. This technology, Piper says, “helps ensure that vehicles remain within their designated work limits, protects workers operating in close proximity to those vehicles, and prevents collisions with obstacles or other vehicles in the vicinity.” LCCAS is integrated with back-office dispatch systems for the delivery of work orders to both vehicle operators and employees-in-charge (EIC), and monitors vehicle telemetry in real time to report any rule violations or incidents.
Piper’s new offering leverages the comprehensive safety functionality of the LCCAS in the form of a “lightweight, easy-to-deploy kit” that addresses the specific recommendations issued by the NTSB, according to the company. It includes Piper’s advanced solid-state LiDAR devices to provide 360-degree visibility for vehicles to detect the presence of obstacles or workers and provide immediate alerts and braking if required. This safety overlay, Piper says, “ensures that all maintenance vehicles, including those with swinging or articulating booms can operate safely alongside track workers.” The kits include quick mounting in-cab vehicle displays to provide audible and visual alerts for operators. It also includes ruggedized tablets for foremen and workers in charge to monitor operations in real-time to ensure compliance with safety regulations.
“This new kit is the product of many years of experience with our broadly deployed Limits Compliance and Collision Avoidance System,” said Piper Networks CEO Robert Hanczor. “Our ability to package this technology in a way that meets the very specific recommendations of the NTSB demonstrates our commitment to railroad maintenance safety and gives our customers a robust solution that’s ready to deploy with minimal configuration.”
Piper’s LiDAR technology plays a critical role in the safe operation of railroads and transit agencies, the company noted. Designed for use in rugged terrain and urban areas, including tunnels, it offers many advantages over traditional camera-based perception systems, including the ability to detect obstacles and workers in total darkness while also remaining resilient to bright lights from other vehicles operating in the area. Its IP-67 housing, Piper says, ensures that it meets the environmental standards set by the industry. Additionally, when used in conjunction with Piper’s digital twin rail mapping software, it identifies the dynamic clearance envelope of the track to ensure that fixed infrastructure, such as signal or catenary poles, doesn’t create false alerts for the operator.
The ready-safe kit can be expanded to include additional functionality, including integration into braking for full-service braking and the real-time data management provides control centers with comprehensive awareness of operational safety across entire fleets of maintenance vehicles.
Piper will introduce the kit to the industry at the 2025 AREMA Annual Conference and Expo, Booth 823 in Indianapolis, Ind., Sept. 14-17, and the 2025 APTA TRANSform Conference and Expo in Boston, Mass., Sept. 14-17.
