US 12,269,524 B2
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for monitoring moving vehicles
Mabby Nicholas Amouie, Atlanta, GA (US); and Evan Thomas Gebhardt, Atlanta, GA (US)
Assigned to Norfolk Southern Corporation, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed by Norfolk Southern Corporation, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed on Sep. 9, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/829,216.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/581,554, filed on Sep. 8, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/582,165, filed on Sep. 12, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2025/0083721 A1, Mar. 13, 2025
Int. Cl. B61L 27/57 (2022.01); B61L 25/02 (2006.01); G06T 7/00 (2017.01); G06T 7/80 (2017.01)
CPC B61L 27/57 (2022.01) [B61L 25/021 (2013.01); G06T 7/001 (2013.01); G06T 7/80 (2017.01); G06T 2207/30252 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An inspection system comprising:
a plurality of wheel detection sensors configured to detect a presence and/or a non-presence of wheels of a passing railcar traveling along a railway;
one or more imaging devices configured to capture inspection images of the passing railcar travelling along the railway; and
one or more computing devices in communication with the plurality of wheel detection sensors and the one or more imaging devices, the one or more computing devices being configured to:
determine a current estimated train speed for the passing railcar based at least in part on wheel detection events detected by the plurality of wheel detection sensors;
output capture instructions for the one or more imaging devices to capture images of one or more target regions of the passing railcar, wherein one or more corresponding timings of the capture instructions are based at least in part on the current estimated train speed; and
perform a system health monitoring process comprising:
determining an expected data profile based on the current estimated train speed;
receiving captured image data associated with one or more captured images that were captured by the one or more imaging devices according to the capture instructions;
determining, based on a comparison of the captured image data to the expected data profile, whether a system health of the inspection system is acceptable; and
in response to determining that the system health of the inspection system is not acceptable, outputting a notification indicating the system health of the inspection system is not acceptable.