At CEATEC 2026 in Japan , Hitachi demonstrated how a small vibration sensor installed beneath a train carriage can help railway operators detect mechanical problems before they cause breakdowns. The technology is part of HMAX for Rail , Hitachi’s AI-powered maintenance platform designed to improve reliability, reduce maintenance costs, and potentially prevent service disruptions.

Last year at CEATEC 2025 , we explored Hitachi’s AI agents, conversational industrial machines, and sensor gloves designed to assist factory workers. This year, the company demonstrated how similar data-driven technologies can help engineers maintain trains and subway systems.

We visited the Hitachi booth at CEATEC 2026 and spoke with a company representative, who explained how the technology works and shared examples of railway operators already using it.

How a Vibration Sensor Can Detect Train Problems

Hitachi displayed a compact black sensor labeled Perpetuum Onboard , alongside a video showing its application beneath a…