Patent application number | Description | Published |
20150070503 | VIDEO SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DATA COMMUNICATION - A camera system and method capture image data with a camera, a data storage device electrically connected to the camera and configured to store the video data and/or a communication device electrically connected to the camera and configured to communicate the image data to a system receiver located remote from the camera. The system receiver may be located onboard a vehicle such that an operator can carry the camera off board the vehicle and communicate the image data back to the vehicle, when performing, for example, work on the vehicle or inspecting the vehicle or the environs of the vehicle. | 03-12-2015 |
20150158513 | AERIAL CAMERA SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING ROUTE-RELATED HAZARDS - An aerial camera system includes an aerial device disposed onboard a non-aerial vehicle as the non-aerial vehicle moves along a route. The aerial device also can be configured to fly above the route during movement of the vehicle along the route. The camera unit is configured to be disposed onboard the aerial device and to generate image data during flight of the aerial device. The one or more image analysis processors are configured to examine the image data and to identify a hazard disposed ahead of the non-aerial vehicle along a direction of travel of the non-aerial vehicle based on the image data. A method for identifying route-related hazards using image data obtained from a camera unit on an aerial device. | 06-11-2015 |
20150268172 | OPTICAL ROUTE EXAMINATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method for optically examining a route such as a track includes obtaining one or more images of a segment of a track from a camera mounted to a rail vehicle while the rail vehicle is moving along the track and selecting a benchmark visual profile of the segment of the track. The benchmark visual profile represents a designated layout of the track. The method also can include comparing the one or more images of the segment of the track with the benchmark visual profile of the track and identifying one or more differences between the one or more images and the benchmark visual profile as a misaligned segment of the track. | 09-24-2015 |
20150285688 | THERMOGRAPHIC ROUTE EXAMINATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A thermographic route examination system includes a thermographic camera, a computer readable memory device, and an analysis processing unit. The thermographic camera is coupled with a vehicle that travels along a route and senses infrared radiation emitted from the route to generate a thermal signature representative of the route. The computer readable memory device stores healthy thermal signatures representative of temperatures of at least one segment of the route that is not damaged. The analysis processing unit receives the thermal signature from the thermographic camera and to determine if the one or more segments of the route are damaged segments of the route based on the thermal signature by comparing the thermal signature of the one or more segments of the route with the one or more healthy thermal signatures to determine if the one or more segments of the route are the damaged segments of the route. | 10-08-2015 |
20150294153 | ROUTE DAMAGE PREDICTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A route damage prediction system includes cameras, a conversion unit, and an analysis unit. The cameras obtain image data that include a route traveled upon by vehicles. The image data includes still images and/or video of the route obtained at different times. The conversion unit includes one or more computer processors configured to at least one of create wireframe model data or modify the image data into the wireframe model data representative of the route. The analysis unit includes one or more computer processors configured to examine changes in the wireframe model data to identify a historical trend of changes in the image data. The analysis unit is configured to compare the historical trend of the changes in the image data with designated patterns of changes in the wireframe model data to determine when to request at least one of repair, inspection, or maintenance of the route. | 10-15-2015 |