US 12,330,696 B2
On-board thermal track misalignment detection system and method therefor
Asim Ghanchi, Southlake, TX (US); Nicholas Dryer, North Barrington, IL (US); Coleman Barkley, Azle, TX (US); and Michael Saied Saniei, Fort Worth, TX (US)
Assigned to BNSF Railway Company, Fort Worth, TX (US)
Filed by BNSF Railway Company, Fort Worth, TX (US)
Filed on Feb. 20, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/582,223.
Application 18/582,223 is a continuation of application No. 18/185,923, filed on Mar. 17, 2023, granted, now 11,915,404.
Application 18/185,923 is a continuation of application No. 17/806,316, filed on Jun. 10, 2022, granted, now 11,623,669, issued on Apr. 11, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0190483 A1, Jun. 13, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B61K 9/08 (2006.01); B61L 23/04 (2006.01); B61L 25/02 (2006.01); G06T 7/00 (2017.01); H04N 23/54 (2023.01); H04N 23/90 (2023.01)
CPC B61K 9/08 (2013.01) [B61L 23/042 (2013.01); B61L 23/047 (2013.01); B61L 25/025 (2013.01); G06T 7/0002 (2013.01); H04N 23/90 (2023.01); B61L 2205/04 (2013.01); H04N 23/54 (2023.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of detecting railroad track misalignment, comprising:
receiving, via a first imaging sensor coupled to a rail vehicle, a first rail view of a first section of a first rail;
generating first imaging data related to the first rail via the first imaging sensor;
receiving, via a second imaging sensor coupled to a rail vehicle, a second rail view of a second section of the first rail;
generating second imaging data related to the first rail via the second imaging sensor; and
comparing, via an edge processor, the first and second imaging data to detect misalignments of a railroad track, wherein an adaptive anomaly threshold varies based upon a measured deviation of the rail.