Intel Corporation
Smart Pantograph-Catenary Monitoring Systems for Railway Operators
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Increase Operational Readiness with Predictive Maintenance Insights Powered by Intel Edge-to-Cloud Technologies
The global rail market is booming, as densely populated cities seek more efficient transportation strategies to respond to population growth, safety and security concerns, and shrinking operating budgets. Meanwhile, constraints to existing rail networks make accommodation of next-gen passenger and shipping demands more difficult. New, innovative railway operations approaches are needed.
Global climate change is also pushing national and local governments to call for more sustainable solutions such as rail electrification. This will help improve energy consumption and decrease carbon emissions by diesel rail engines. Cities want to take advantage of new technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) to provide real-time analytics to help increase operational readiness, safety, and efficiencies – all in pursuit of capturing better return on investment.
Intel-powered smart railway solutions combine integrated hardware and software to consolidate different use case applications at the edge of networks. When rail operators use existing in-vehicle computers and accelerators, Intel-based solutions digitally connect railcars and operators to help create a safe, efficient, and convenient railway fleet.
Solution
Intel and its global ecosystem of partners have collaborated on a Pantograph Catenary Monitoring System (PCMS) solution. This fully automated pantograph inspection system for predictive maintenance offers advanced accuracy and measurement technology for helping to detect damaged pantographs and catenaries. Using a combination of 3D laser triangulation, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and advanced software algorithm processing at network edges, the system helps accurately detect and measure pantographs for damage. The system can then alert rail operators to schedule maintenance.
