On Track for Success

摘要

Omnicom Engineering's OmniVision system is installed on several specifically designed measurement and inspection trains and combines high speed, high resolution cameras and pattern recognition software to automate the detection of track defects. Above and below: Multipix Imaging worked closely with Omnicom Engineering in recommending and specifying the vision equipment with the end result being a system which combines many different aspects of machine vision technology The system improves both the quality and safety of the process whilst saving time and money. It also means that tracks do not have to be closed whilst they are being inspected. Network Rail selected Omnicom to develop the Plain Line Pattern Recognition (PLPR) system, which consists of an image acquisition system called OmniInspector linked to a track geometry measurement system. The system includes linescan cameras, profile cameras, a high grade lighting system, positioning system, thermal cameras and image recording hardware. The system is designed to capture raw, uncompressed images to maintain maximum image quality whilst travelling with the cameras capturing at 76kHz. To accommodate the immense amount of data collected, a substantial amount of storage and image processing equipment is also required.