International Railway Journal - May 2008 - (Page 48)

Measuring & testing route. The wagon-specific inspection entails visually confirming that the appliances are in place and secure, and that they have proper clearance as defined in the regulation. This requires the inspector to visually examine all four corners and both ends of the wagon. This can be a time-consuming process and inspection quality can vary. Generally, there is no written record of an inspection having been performed and only exceptions are reported. Although inspectors generally do a very good job, the current practice of manual inspection BeenaVision’s ASAIS consists of an array of cameras and infrared strobe lights configured to does have certain shortcomings. capture and reproduce each corner of the wagon in 3-D. Inspection quality can be affected several partner companies. TTCI with the cameras are used for consistent by inspector competence, attitude and worked with two vendors lighting. experience, limited inspection time, and Tecnogamma, Italy, and BeenaVision, environmental conditions. Automating United States - to develop machine the process would eliminate the Brake inspection vision based systems that will subjectivity of the inspection process as Freight trains operated within the automatically assess the condition of well as the time involved and the United States that travel in excess of wagon safety appliances in 2007. These environmental effects. Additionally, 1600km are currently required by the prototype systems were installed and complete inspection results can be FRA to have a brake test. The test tested at the FRA Transportation easily recorded and archived, freeing requires a manual inspection of the Technology Centre’s facility for staff for repairing defects as opposed to brake system and is very labouraccelerated service testing (FAST). finding them. intensive, time-consuming and can be The Tecnogamma ASAIS consists of An automated safety appliance somewhat subjective and inconsistent. an array of cameras and floodlights inspection system (ASAIS) uses an Recent advances in technology lend configured to capture and reproduce array of high-speed digital cameras and themselves to automating the test to the entire wagon end in 3-D. The either strobe or continuous lighting to improve efficiency and consistency system uses streaming video and capture images of the wagons as a train thereby improving overall system safety continuous lighting. Frame rates are passes an installation at line speed. and reliability. controlled to produce a constant ASAIS uses computer algorithms to Current practice is to have an number of frames per vehicle regardless positively identify safety appliances inspector positioned on each side of the of train speed. and objectively assess their condition train (either by walking or riding in a The BeenaVision ASAIS consists of an based on user-defined thresholds. vehicle the entire length of the train) array of cameras and infrared strobe Inspection time and inspector during the inspection process. The test lights configured to capture and subjectivity is eliminated and a vehicle consists of inspecting brake rigging, reproduce each corner of the wagon in health report can be generated with brake shoes, and piston travel in 3-D. The system uses triggering to exception reports automatically response to a 20-psi brake pipe service capture the image at a specific location. transmitted to the appropriate locations. reduction. This current method of Infrared strobe lights synchronised ASAISs are being developed with Advanced Train Weighing Systems Static and dynamic systems Fully automatic or manual operation Minimal installation downtime Complete maintenance and service support Reduced Cost of Ownership +44 (0)161 431 5155 www.averyweigh-tronix.com/railweight

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of International Railway Journal - May 2008

International Railway Journal - May 2008 Contents This Month News Transit News Market News Technology News News Analysis Italian Railways on the Road to Recovery High-Speed: On the Home Straight Korea Develops High-Speed Ambitions Setting New Standards for New Rolling Stock India Solves Traction Motor Conundrum Weathering the Storm with Climatic Testing Technology Drives US Train Inspections Rendezvous Full Contact List Advertisers Index The Last Word

International Railway Journal - May 2008

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