Use of liDAR and autonomous mobile robots in safety and inspection applications on railways

Abstract

LiDAR is a remote sensing technology that enables measuring distances using laser beams. Over the last two decades, LiDAR has established itself primarily in the field of Earth observation and has subsequently taken advantage of its capabilities in stationary and mobile platforms, providing real-time solutions for e.g. autonomous driving, robotics, and drone applications. This paper presents two examples confirming applicability of LiDAR sensors in safety and inspection applications on railway infrastructure. SMART2 uses a stationary sensor (or more of them) for accident prevention and detection of dangerous obstacles at level crossings. The second application developed in the InspectRail project introduces a new way of controlling dangerous railway sections threatened by landslides, falling rocks, collapses of buildings, etc. LiDAR sensors and video cameras are utilized to inspect such sections, mounted on the autonomous mobile robots moving along the railway lines on steel cables stretched between catenary masts.