	US 12,441,377 B2
	Systems and methods for identifying potential deficiencies in railway environment objects
Dennis William Morgart, Topeka, KS (US); Joshua J. McBain, Lawrence, KS (US); Corey Tremain Pasta, Topeka, KS (US); and Aaron Thomas Ratledge, Haslet, TX (US)
Assigned to BNSF Railway Company, Fort Worth, TX (US)
Filed by BNSF Railway Company, Fort Worth, TX (US)
Filed on Feb. 19, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/444,876.
Application 18/444,876 is a continuation of application No. 16/827,238, filed on Mar. 23, 2020, granted, now 11,904,914.
Prior Publication US 2024/0190485 A1, Jun. 13, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B61L 23/04 (2006.01); B61L 15/00 (2006.01); B61L 23/00 (2006.01); B61L 27/40 (2022.01)

CPC B61L 23/041 (2013.01) [B61L 15/0072 (2013.01); B61L 15/0081 (2013.01); B61L 15/0094 (2024.01); B61L 23/007 (2013.01); B61L 23/042 (2013.01); B61L 23/044 (2013.01); B61L 23/047 (2013.01); B61L 23/048 (2013.01); B61L 27/40 (2022.01)]

20 Claims

1. A method for identifying potential deficiencies in railway environment objects, comprising:

capturing, by a machine vision device, an image of an object in a railway environment, wherein the machine vision device is attached to a first train car that is moving in a first direction along a first railroad track of the railway environment;

analyzing, by the machine vision device, the image of the object using one or more machine vision algorithms to determine a value associated with the object;

comparing, by the machine vision device, that the value associated with the object with a predetermined threshold to determine whether the object presents an exception;

classifying, by the machine vision device, the exception as a potential deficiency;

generating, by the machine vision device, a label on the image, the label indicating the potential deficiency; and

communicating, by the machine vision device, an alert indicating the exception of the object to a component external to the first train car, the alert comprising the labeled image.