Stationary automated signaling equipment inspection system using lidar

• US 10,094,657 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2016
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alstom Transport Technologies
• Original Assignee: Alstom Transport Technologies
• Inventors: Kiss, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Desire, Gregory M
• Application Number:
  US15/281,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20180094920A1
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/27 for testing the alignment of axes means for centering or aligning a light guide within a ferrule G02B6/3834
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/272 using photoelectric detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 15/00 Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of electromagnetic waves or particle radiation, e.g. by the use of microwaves, X-rays, gamma rays or electrons characterised by the use of optical techniques G01B9/00, G01B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S17/46
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10028 Range image; Depth image; 3D point clouds
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10044 Radar image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30108 Industrial image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30236 Traffic on road, railway or crossing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/001 using an image reference approach
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/248 involving reference images or patches

Abstract

An automated signaling equipment inspection system is provided. The system includes signaling equipment, a LiDAR imaging device permanently installed close to the signaling equipment at a position and with an orientation allowing complete imaging of the orientation and configuration in space of the signaling equipment and of any potential movement of the signaling equipment during its operation, an image data processing device for detecting a non-conformity of the signaling equipment, and a reference image database storing reference image data of the signaling equipment. The LiDAR imaging device is configured to scan the signaling equipment to obtain real image data thereof. The image data processing device is configured to detect a non-conformity of the signaling equipment by comparing the real image data with reference image data taken from the reference image database.

Claims

1. An automated signaling equipment inspection system comprising:

signaling equipment;

an active ranging imaging device permanently installed close to the signaling equipment at a position and with an orientation allowing complete imaging of the orientation and configuration in space of the signaling equipment and of any potential movement of the signaling equipment during its operation; and

an image data processing device for detecting a non-conformity of the signaling equipment;

wherein the active ranging imaging device is configured to scan the signaling equipment to obtain real image data thereof, and

wherein the image data processing device is configured to detect a non-conformity of the signaling equipment by either comparing said real image data with a reference image data of the signaling equipment taken from a reference image database or by comparing real image data from successive scans.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said non-conformity is a physical misalignment or a malfunctioning of the signaling equipment.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the active ranging imaging device comprises two or more separate active ranging scanning units permanently installed at different positions with different viewing angles around the signaling equipment.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the active ranging scanning units are installed on opposite sides of the signaling equipment.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the signaling equipment is a signaling lamp.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the signaling equipment is a point machine.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the signaling equipment is a crossing gate.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the reference image database includes a first reference image of the crossing gate in its raised position and a second reference image of the crossing gate in its lowered position, and wherein the image data processing device is configured to:

determine that the crossing gate is raised or lowered when real image data of the crossing gate obtained from the active ranging imaging device matches said first or second reference image;

detect a movement of the crossing gate when real image data of the crossing gate obtained from the active ranging imaging device no longer matches any of said first or second reference images;

indicate a malfunction of the crossing gate if;

i) real image data of the crossing gate obtained from the active ranging imaging device after having detected a movement of the crossing gate away from the raised position fails to match said second reference image for more than a set amount of time, indicating that the crossing gate does not close properly;

or

ii) real image data of the crossing gate obtained from the active ranging imaging device after having detected a movement of the crossing gate away from the lowered position fails to match said first reference image for more than a set amount of time, indicating that the crossing gate does not open properly.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said signaling equipment is a type of equipment that moves during its operation, wherein said real image data is a recording of the real movement of said signaling equipment, and wherein said reference image data is a representation of the movement expected from said signaling equipment.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the active ranging imaging device is configured for vertical and horizontal scanning.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the active ranging imaging device operates with LiDAR or RADAR.