Abstract: A device for conducting rail car inspections including an inspection module, an imaging module, a scanner module, a location module, a printer module and a communication module.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring trains in a railyard. These methods and systems detect an incoming train entering a geographic area defined by a railyard, store an entry time indicative of a time at which the incoming train entering the railyard was detected, detect the incoming train coming to a stop in a subyard of the railyard, store a stop time indicative of a time at which the incoming train came to a stop in the receiving subyard, calculate an incoming train latency time by subtracting the entry time from the stop time, and store the incoming train latency time as an incoming train latency time record.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for indicating whether a coupler of a locomotive is in a coupled or uncoupled state is provided. The apparatus comprising: a sensor positioned on a portion of the coupler, wherein the sensor provides a real-time signal indicative of either a coupled or an uncoupled state of a coupler, wherein the signal is transmitted wirelessly by a transmitter in operable communication with the sensor. The method comprising: providing a signal indicative of the presence or proximity of a second coupler to the first coupler, the signal being provided by a sensor configured to provide the signal as the state of the coupler has changed; transmitting the signal wirelessly to a controller; processing the signal with a control algorithm resident upon the controller; and providing visually perceivable indication of the position of the coupler.

Abstract: A method for tracking assets within a rail yard, the method comprising: creating a track layout database for the rail yard, the track layout database providing a map of rail tracks and switches within the rail yard, wherein the track layout database includes machine readable data identifying discrete locations of the rail tracks and switches of the rail yard, each discrete location corresponding to a geographical position of a portion of a rail track or switch; associating rail yard processing steps with portions of the track layout database; receiving a geographical position signal corresponding to an asset within the rail yard; comparing the geographical position signal to the machine readable data of the track layout database in order to identify the location of the asset within the map; and presenting a graphical representation of the location of the asset on the map along with the yard process steps associated with the track section occupied by the asset, wherein the geographical position signal is recei

Abstract: A wireless position sensing device is provided for monitoring railyard equipment status. The device comprises a gravity sensing mechanism for sensing an angular displacement with respect to a substantially vertical line, and for generating a displacement signal upon sensing a change in angular displacement exceeding approximately 40 degrees. A processing mechanism, operatively coupled to the gravity sensing mechanism, receives the displacement signal. A radio frequency transmitter, responsive to the processing mechanism, transmits a data signal indicative of the angular displacement. The processing mechanism is programmed to activate the radio frequency transmitter upon receipt of the displacement signal. The gravity sensing mechanism is affixed, attached, or mechanically coupled to railyard equipment comprising at least one of a manually operated rail switch or a safety indicator.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method that relates to mobile platform navigation through landmark recognition. The method including capturing images with at least one imaging device on the mobile platform and recognizing the captured images by comparing the captured images to images of landmarks stored in a database of location labeled landmark images. The method further including, navigating the mobile platform through tracking a location of the mobile platform relative to locations of the location labeled landmark images.

Abstract: A method includes generating a first response including a plurality of potential first objects of interest of a first shape from data regarding a region of interest (ROI), generating a second response including a plurality of second objects of interest for a second shape different than the first shape from the data regarding the ROI, and performing a morphological closing on the second response to produce a second cleaned response including a plurality of completed second objects. The method also includes decreasing the number of potential objects of interest in the first response by deleting any potential first objects that overlap any completed second objects to obtain a cleaned first response, and generating an image using at least one of the first cleaned response and the second cleaned response.