Intelligent Aerial Drones for Traversability Assessment of Railroad Tracks
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2024-09-30
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Edition:June 1, 2023 – August 31, 2024
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Abstract:Efficient railroad infrastructure monitoring and assessment is a critical issue for safe and sustainable operations. Apart from scheduled inspection and routine maintenance, there is a need for rapid assessment of the rail network after major events. For example, a storm can affect the traversability of a line (downed trees, rocks or flooding can block the line). Since it is impossible to continuously monitor the whole network before and after a major event, there is always the risk of an accident for a train crossing a blocked line, if the obstacle\damage ahead is realized too late. In this project, we aim to develop intelligent aerial drones capable of identifying and following railway lines, while assessing the traversability and providing an early warning whenever needed. The drone system can be carried and deployed by the locomotive, with the mission to fly ahead of the train within the railway right of way for a distance that is safe to provide this early warning (2-3 miles). The main characteristics of this system are: i) Visual based identification and autonomous following of the line; the system will be able to work even in GPS-degraded environments (tunnels, dense forests); ii) Collision avoidance capability where the drone senses and avoids obstacles; iii) Track centering capability where the drone follows the same line regardless of the number of tracks in the field of view; and iv) Identification and mapping of any obstacles identified blocking the line.
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