Rail Position Measurement Using Catenary Geometry Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining the actual position of rail tracks using optical sensor devices on rail vehicles require separate recording of the sensor device's motion, which is cumbersome and reduces precision, especially in curved sections and when recording adjacent installations.
Innovation Solution
The method involves recording the course of the track and adjacent installations as preliminary data and transforming it into corrected data using known geometric shapes, such as a straight line for the contact wire or platform edge, without requiring additional motion recording, using algorithms and geometric transformations to compensate for distortions and enhance precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate recording of sensor device motion is used to compensate for distortions, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical sensor device records its own motion-induced distortions in the images of adjacent installations, and the evaluation device automatically compensates for these distortions using the recorded geometric shapes as reference. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for separate motion recording devices while maintaining high measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjacent installations (contact wire, platform edge) serve as intermediary reference objects with known geometric shapes. These intermediaries enable the system to measure and compensate for sensor motion distortions without requiring direct measurement of the sensor's motion itself, thus simplifying the overall system.
2Measurement precision
If additional measuring devices are used to record sensor motion, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical sensor device performs multiple functions: it records both the track position and the adjacent installations with known geometric shapes. This multi-functionality allows the same device to serve as both the measurement instrument and the reference object recorder, eliminating the need for additional dedicated motion recording devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the recorded images of adjacent installations as self-generated reference data to compensate for its own motion distortions. This self-service approach allows the measurement system to correct its own errors without external assistance from additional measuring devices.
3Measurement precision
If geometric transformation of recorded courses is used to compensate for distortions, then measurement precision is improved, but computational effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system records the geometric shapes of adjacent installations (contact wire, platform edge) as reference data during the measurement process. This preliminary recording of reference geometries enables efficient compensation calculations to be performed later, reducing the computational burden compared to real-time complex transformations.
Solution Approach 2:
The evaluation device creates simplified mathematical representations (copies) of the recorded geometric shapes of adjacent installations. These copied geometric models are easier to process computationally than the raw image data, enabling efficient distortion compensation while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for precise determination of track and installation positions without additional measuring devices, improving data accuracy and reducing computational effort, while maintaining precision even in extremal conditions like wind or track curvature.
Implementation Method 1
optical sensor device, positioned on a rail vehicle, for recording the position of the track and adjacent installations
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for determining an actual position of rails of a track by means of an optical sensor device, positioned on a rail vehicle, for recording the position of the track and adjacent installations. In this, it is provided that, by means of the sensor device, a course of the track and a course of the adjacent installations, in particular a catenary installation, are recorded for a track section as preliminary actual data, and that the preliminary actual data are transformed into corrected actual data in an evaluation device in that a recorded course of at least one adjacent installation is transformed into a course with a specified geometric shape. In addition, the invention relates to a system for implementing the method.