B61L23/04

Systems and methods for inspecting a railroad
11529980 · 2022-12-20 · ·

A method for analyzing one or more conditions of a transportation pathway includes obtaining, using an imaging device of an inspection system, image data reproducible as a plurality of images of the transportation pathway, each of the plurality of images being reproducible as an image of a portion of the transportation pathway, each portion of the transportation pathway having an associated location along a length of the transportation pathway, analyzing, using one or more processors of the inspection system, the image data to determine a first plurality of metrics indicative of a condition of the transportation pathway at each of the associated locations, and generating a first graph, using the determined first plurality of metrics, that is indicative of the condition of the transportation pathway at each of the associated locations.

A SYSTEM, A VEHICLE AND A METHOD FOR THE DETECTION OF POSITION AND GEOMETRY OF LINE INFRASTRUCTURES, PARTICULARLY FOR A RAILWAY LINE
20220388553 · 2022-12-08 ·

A detection system and method for line infrastructures of a railway line includes: at least one electromagnetic-wave detection device having at least one transceiver antenna, the electromagnetic-wave detection device being configured for emitting electromagnetic waves towards a line infrastructure by means said at least one transceiver antenna and for receiving electromagnetic waves reflected by said line infrastructure; and a control unit configured for processing the electromagnetic waves reflected by said line infrastructure and determining a position of said line infrastructure with respect to a pre-set reference system. The at least one electromagnetic-wave detection device is configured for installation on board a railway vehicle.

A SYSTEM, A VEHICLE AND A METHOD FOR THE DETECTION OF POSITION AND GEOMETRY OF LINE INFRASTRUCTURES, PARTICULARLY FOR A RAILWAY LINE
20220388553 · 2022-12-08 ·

A detection system and method for line infrastructures of a railway line includes: at least one electromagnetic-wave detection device having at least one transceiver antenna, the electromagnetic-wave detection device being configured for emitting electromagnetic waves towards a line infrastructure by means said at least one transceiver antenna and for receiving electromagnetic waves reflected by said line infrastructure; and a control unit configured for processing the electromagnetic waves reflected by said line infrastructure and determining a position of said line infrastructure with respect to a pre-set reference system. The at least one electromagnetic-wave detection device is configured for installation on board a railway vehicle.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING AN INTRUDER ON TRACKS
20220388554 · 2022-12-08 · ·

A track intrusion detection system for detecting the presence of human-size intruders in a path of a railway vehicle is disclosed. The track intrusion detection system includes at least one-track module for each entrance of a tunnel railway and a server. Each track module includes at least two sensors and a signal processing unit to indicate the presence of human intruders in the area scanned by the at least two sensors. The system utilizes both measured distance and reflectivity compared with previously recorded distance and reflectivity in an empty tunnel, to assess the presence of a human-size intruder. A predefined masked area may be excluded from alert.

System and method for continuous welded rail risk modeling

A system for modeling risk of rail buckling in railroad infrastructure is presented. The system can receive a myriad of data related to railroad tracks and/or railroad operations, and weight the data using specially-designed weighting factors that can be unique to each data type. The weighted data can be transformed via specialized algorithms to generate location scores reflective of a risk isolated to a particular area. The system can further utilize additional specialized algorithms to elucidate how such isolated risk can be extrapolated from one location to another. The system can implement a multilayer approach, formulating one or more layers of risk models and aggregating such models into an overarching risk model that can more-accurately forecast risk of rail buckling in a railroad track.

Autonomous optimization of intra-train communication network
11595256 · 2023-02-28 · ·

A system for dynamically adjusting a configuration of an intra-train communication network includes an electronic device and a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium has one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the electronic device to receive one or more parameters values associated with a train consist, determine whether a potentially adverse condition that would affect intra-train communication for the train consist is anticipated based on at least a portion of the received parameters, in response to determining that the potentially adverse condition is anticipated, identify one or more updated network parameter settings that will assist in maintaining intra-train communication of the train consist during an occurrence of the potentially adverse condition by executing a machine learning model, and implement the identified one or more updated network parameter settings.

Systems and methods for analyzing a rail
11590992 · 2023-02-28 · ·

A deployable measurement system for analyzing a rail of a railroad track includes a housing, a reflecting assembly coupled to the housing, a movement assembly coupled to the housing, and an optical measurement system disposed within the housing. Both the housing and the reflecting assembly are moveable between a stored position and a deployed position. The movement assembly includes a deployment assembly that moves the reflecting assembly from the stored position to the deployed position, and a retraction assembly that moves the reflecting assembly from the deployed position to the stored position. The optical measurement system emits and receives light. The reflecting assembly reflects the emitted light toward the rail. The reflecting assembly reflects light reflected off of the rail toward the optical measurement system. The light received by the optical measurement system is used to measure parameters related to the rail.

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GATHERING DATA FROM SENSORS ORIENTED AT AN OBLIQUE ANGLE RELATIVE TO A RAILWAY TRACK
20230058445 · 2023-02-23 · ·

A system and method for inspecting a railway track using sensors oriented at an oblique angle relative to a rail vehicle on which the system is traveling. The orientation of the sensors allows for different data to be gathered regarding a particular rail including rail design specifications (gathered based on manufacturer markings detected and analyzed by the system), rail seat abrasion values based on direct measurement of rails from the oblique angle, and other analysis of rail features including joint bars, rail welds, bond wires, rail holes, and broken rails. The use of an air blower, ducts, and one or more air distribution lids over the sensors helps remove debris from blocking the sensors and structured light generators.

Cyber security anonymizer

A cyber security system for providing security to a railway, the system comprising: a data monitoring and processing hub; a network comprising a plurality of data collection agents synchronized to a same network clock and configured to monitor railway infrastructure devices and onboard devices of rolling stock having a train communication network (TCN), and forward monitored data to the hub for processing by the hub to detect anomalies in railway operation that are indicative of a cyber-attack; at least one anonymizer configured to scrub information items from data that the hub receives from a data collection agent of the plurality of data collection agents which may be used to identify the cyber security system or the railway for which the system provides security.

Cyber security anonymizer

A cyber security system for providing security to a railway, the system comprising: a data monitoring and processing hub; a network comprising a plurality of data collection agents synchronized to a same network clock and configured to monitor railway infrastructure devices and onboard devices of rolling stock having a train communication network (TCN), and forward monitored data to the hub for processing by the hub to detect anomalies in railway operation that are indicative of a cyber-attack; at least one anonymizer configured to scrub information items from data that the hub receives from a data collection agent of the plurality of data collection agents which may be used to identify the cyber security system or the railway for which the system provides security.