Provided are systems and methods of using of optical delay lines in RF imagers, e.g., Ultra-wideband (UWB) imagers. In an embodiment, a modulator can be configured to convert radio-frequency signals to optical signal. First and second optical delay lines delay respective first and second optical signals converted by the modulator, and a photodetector can convert the delayed optical signals to at least one electrical signal corresponding to at least one pixel of a radio frequency image. The disclosed systems and methods can also further form a radio-frequency image based on output from the photodetector. In still further embodiments, the photodetector can receive modulated optical signals from an array of optical delays. Also provided are related methods of using the disclosed systems and devices.

A system and method for automating railroad maintenance for a tie gang using electronic tie marking (ETM) configured to optimize railroad asset maintenance. The system enables the automating of an adaptive maintenance process for the asset that is being maintainanced. The system can identify a railroad asset scheduled for maintenance using various forms of inspection including real-time kinematic (RTK)-corrected GPS data, radar signal processing data, and real-time imaging. The system also provides for the acquisition and upload of asset pictures for verification and analysis of a railroad asset. The system can identify a next location to perform maintenance and can calculate an optimum path based on sensor input incorporating machine-specific and environmental characteristics. The system further can provide a customizable user interface to identify, track, and process information related to maintenance of the railroad asset.

The method includes a data collection step, a setup step, a positioning step, an analysis step, and an adjustment step. The data collection step collects spatial data about a scene to be monitored. The setup step installs a number of monitoring devices and a reference device, where the reference device includes a reflector or a calibration pattern. The positioning step determines respective positions of the monitoring devices relative to the reference device. The analysis step determines whether the FOVs of the monitoring devices jointly cover the scene by an algorithm module analyzing the scene data, the FOVs of the monitoring devices, and the relative positions of the monitoring devices against the reference device. The adjustment step provides suggestions about adding one or more monitoring devices or changing positions of the monitoring devices to cover the scene entirely if the FOVs of the monitoring devices do not cover the scene.

The method includes a data collection step, a setup step, a positioning step, an analysis step, and an adjustment step. The data collection step collects spatial data about a scene to be monitored. The setup step installs a number of monitoring devices and a reference device, where the reference device includes a reflector or a calibration pattern. The positioning step determines respective positions of the monitoring devices relative to the reference device. The analysis step determines whether the FOVs of the monitoring devices jointly cover the scene by an algorithm module analyzing the scene data, the FOVs of the monitoring devices, and the relative positions of the monitoring devices against the reference device. The adjustment step provides suggestions about adding one or more monitoring devices or changing positions of the monitoring devices to cover the scene entirely if the FOVs of the monitoring devices do not cover the scene.

An apparatus for monitoring the surrounding environment of a vehicle may include a sensor unit including a plurality of detection sensors configured to detect an object outside the vehicle according to frames with a time period; and a controller configured to extract a stationary object among outside objects detected through the sensor unit based on behavior information of the vehicle, map the extracted stationary object to a grid map, add occupancy information to each of grids constituting the grid map, in response to the stationary object being mapped to the grid map, calculate an occupancy probability parameter indicating the probability that the stationary object will be located at each of the grids, from the occupancy information added to the grids within the grid map in a plurality of frames, and monitor the surrounding environment of the vehicle on the basis of the occupancy probability parameter.

An apparatus for monitoring the surrounding environment of a vehicle may include a sensor unit including a plurality of detection sensors configured to detect an object outside the vehicle according to frames with a time period; and a controller configured to extract a stationary object among outside objects detected through the sensor unit based on behavior information of the vehicle, map the extracted stationary object to a grid map, add occupancy information to each of grids constituting the grid map, in response to the stationary object being mapped to the grid map, calculate an occupancy probability parameter indicating the probability that the stationary object will be located at each of the grids, from the occupancy information added to the grids within the grid map in a plurality of frames, and monitor the surrounding environment of the vehicle on the basis of the occupancy probability parameter.

A method for determining a geographical location of a vehicle (10) includes using a camera/sensor device (20) of the vehicle for recording (S10) first image and sensor data (30) from surroundings of the vehicle (10) while the vehicle (10) is traveling a route. The first image and sensor data (30) are assigned geographical coordinates and are sent to a data evaluation unit (50) for creating a digital map. The method continues by using a second camera and sensor device (20) for recording (S40) second image and sensor data (30) from surroundings while the vehicle (10) is traveling the same route and sending (S50) the recorded second image and sensor data (30) to the data evaluation unit (50). The data evaluation unit (50) compares (S60) the recorded second image and sensor data (30) with the digital map of the surroundings (70) and determines (S70) a position of the vehicle (10).

A method for determining a geographical location of a vehicle (10) includes using a camera/sensor device (20) of the vehicle for recording (S10) first image and sensor data (30) from surroundings of the vehicle (10) while the vehicle (10) is traveling a route. The first image and sensor data (30) are assigned geographical coordinates and are sent to a data evaluation unit (50) for creating a digital map. The method continues by using a second camera and sensor device (20) for recording (S40) second image and sensor data (30) from surroundings while the vehicle (10) is traveling the same route and sending (S50) the recorded second image and sensor data (30) to the data evaluation unit (50). The data evaluation unit (50) compares (S60) the recorded second image and sensor data (30) with the digital map of the surroundings (70) and determines (S70) a position of the vehicle (10).

Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for monitoring a surrounding environment of a vehicle, the apparatus including a sensor unit including a plurality of detection sensors for detecting an object outside a vehicle according to a frame at a predefined period, and a controller configured to extract a stationary object from among the outside objects detected by the sensor unit, to map the extracted stationary object to a grid map, to calculate an occupancy probability parameter, indicative of a probability that the stationary object will be located on a grid of the grid map, from the result of mapping, and to monitor the surrounding environment of the vehicle by specifying a grid on which the stationary object is located in the grid map, based on the occupancy probability parameter.

Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for monitoring a surrounding environment of a vehicle, the apparatus including a sensor unit including a plurality of detection sensors for detecting an object outside a vehicle according to a frame at a predefined period, and a controller configured to extract a stationary object from among the outside objects detected by the sensor unit, to map the extracted stationary object to a grid map, to calculate an occupancy probability parameter, indicative of a probability that the stationary object will be located on a grid of the grid map, from the result of mapping, and to monitor the surrounding environment of the vehicle by specifying a grid on which the stationary object is located in the grid map, based on the occupancy probability parameter.