A route examination system includes a thermographic camera configured to be logically or mechanically coupled with a vehicle that travels along a route. The thermographic camera is also configured to sense infrared radiation emitted or reflected from the route and to generate a sensed thermal signature representative of the infrared radiation that is sensed. The system also includes a computer readable memory device configured to store a designated thermal signature representative of infrared radiation emitted from a segment of the route that is not damaged. The system also includes an analysis processor configured to determine a condition of a first portion of the route relative to other portions of the route at least in part by comparing the sensed thermal signature and the designated thermal signature.

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.

The present disclosure generally relates to automated detection of railroad track features. Images of a railroad track are captured and analyzed to identify track features such as anchors, spikes, rail ties, tie plates, and joints. Various image processing techniques are utilized to accurately distinguish between track features and other objects in the captured images. Track features identified in the images are assigned identifiers and locations and stored in a database so that a status and/or condition of the track features may be monitored for maintenance purposes.

An apparatus to inspect and analyze railroad track and key track components includes an imaging module that collects image data and displays streaming video and key track components, reports and other geographical data; a data processing module that analyzes defect data; a mapping sensor that collects data related to the rail, key track components, and user location data; an image processing module that processes the image data and displays overlaid images onto the camera's field of view; a database operatively connected to the image processing module that saves the processed image data and provides past measurement and location data to the processing module; and a software module operatively connected to the database for analyzing the processed data on at least a user device.

The invention relates to a computer-implemented method for detecting an anomaly of a rolling equipment rolling on rails of a railway resting on a rail support. This method comprises a decomposition (DECOMP) by discrete wavelet transform of a measurement signal (S) transmitted by a strain sensor detecting the deformation of the rail support into an approximation signal (A.sub.J) and a residual signal (R.sub.J) and a search (RECH-PA) for outliers (PA) in the residual signal (R.sub.J) in order to detect an anomaly of the rolling equipment.

A system and method for monitoring a track and/or rail employs one or more imagers mounted to a railcar and directed to image the track and/or rails wherein the images are geo-tagged with location data. Geo-tagged images are processed to determine at least track gauge and/or at least rail fastener integrity. The system and method may also determine other track and/or rail integrity issues including, e.g., rail fastener integrity, rail profile, rail alignment, center point dip, cross level, rail cant, wheel wear, wheel integrity, rail wear, rail defects, and/or rail temperature. The system and method may also determine when inspection and/or maintenance of the track is indicated, and provide selected records of where and/or when such inspection and/or maintenance is indicated.

A system and method for inspecting a railway track a calculating plate cut and/or rail seat abrasion (RSA) based on rail head elevation and crosstie surface elevation measurements and an estimate of rail height.

A system and method for adjusting light emitter output for a railway track inspection system based on data feedback from one or more devices.

A method for inspecting a railroad track include detecting, using one or more sensors of an inspection system, movement of a transport device along the railroad track, responsive to the detecting, automatically actuating one or more cameras of the inspection system, receiving, from at least one of the one or more cameras, first image data reproducible as a first image of a first portion of the railroad track, analyzing the first image data to identify the presence or absence of one or more features of interest on the first portion of the railroad track; determining a first location of the transport device, and associating the first location of the transport device with the first image data.

An electrical detection device carried by a rail vehicle traveling on a railway track to detect faults in at least one rail, including a contact support suitable for being mechanically linked to the rail vehicle, at least one reference contact and corresponding measuring contact applied to a rail, and carried by the support, a processing circuit to which each reference contact and measuring contact are connected, suitable for measuring the impedance between the corresponding reference and measuring contacts, means for positioning the contact support facing the surface of the rail in a measurement direction corresponding to the axis of the rail, such that each first reference contact and each corresponding measuring contact relate to the same rail, and at least two measuring contacts transversely offset relative to the measurement direction, wherein the processing circuit includes means for measuring the impedance between at least one reference contact and each measuring contact.