Design feasibility for train inspection using vision sensors

Current practice for preventive maintenance inspections of rolling stock over Indian Railways network and in many other parts of the world is largely based on manual inspection which is either trackside or pit examination of stock in stationary or slow moving condition. Visual inspections are performed by trained manpower either in a pit or trackside location but remains dependent on individual judgment. Besides, the stationary inspection deprives the maintenance staff of significant information of dynamic behavior of the vehicle. Automated inspection by machine vision based systems has the potential to overcome these limitations of human inspection. The systems can be placed closer to the track or between the rails where it may be considered unsafe for a human to be positioned when a train passes. A number of defects may be automatically detected using a combination of visual sensors and automated analytics; these may include side view defects on missing and broken components related to axle, wheel disc, wagon doors, springs, shock absorbers, wheels, brake pads; underframe defects on malfunctioning electrical components, cracked components, oil leakage, hanging parts etc., and top view defects including deformed side walls and hanging doors of wagons. Current market solutions are limited in their coverage and performance. As a part of this project, Rail Vision will adapt its existing highly successful technology for track inspection to work for train inspection. It will focus on adapting the electro-mechanical interfaces, sensor positioning and sensor triggering modules for high quality data acquisition of moving trains. It will collaborate with two key customers in India to adapt the technology and is expected to receive future funding from them and other sources to manufacture and trial out the technology at their end. It will also apply for patents in this area to cover its intellectual property. Once the technology is trialled and tested, Rail Vision shall be able to export this technology to a range of international markets.