Perpetuum
Perpetuum, Inc.
Perpetuum, Inc., now a subsidiary of Hitachi Rail, is a technology company that specializes in self-powered wireless sensor systems for the railway industry. Founded in 2004 from the University of Southampton, the company provides end-to-end solutions for real-time condition monitoring and predictive maintenance of critical train components. Its technology is designed to detect potential faults before they escalate, thereby reducing costly service disruptions and enhancing operational safety.
Products & Team
Wireless Condition Monitoring System (Integrated into Hitachi's HMAX Suite)
The core product is a complete solution for real-time condition monitoring of railway assets. It is comprised of self-powered wireless sensors (Nodes) that collect vibration and temperature data, Gateways for data transmission, proprietary algorithms (PALs) for analysis, and web-based applications for visualizing actionable insights. Following its acquisition, this system is a key part of Hitachi Rail's Lumada IoT platform and the HMAX (Hyper Mobility Asset EXpert) digital asset management suite.
The system addresses the critical challenge of unplanned maintenance and service disruptions by enabling a shift from reactive to predictive, condition-based fleet management. It provides train operators with the data needed to detect component degradation early, allowing for optimized maintenance planning, reduced operational costs, and enhanced safety.
Customers seek to mitigate the high costs and service interruptions caused by unexpected component failures. Key challenges include the inefficiencies of traditional time-based maintenance, the inability to accurately predict asset health, and the need to improve overall fleet availability and safety.