Route examining system and method

Abstract

A system includes an application device, a control unit, a detection unit, an identification unit, and a secondary analysis module. The application device is configured to be at least one of conductively or inductively coupled with a route. The control unit is configured to control supply of electric current to inject an examination signal into the route via the application device. The detection unit is configured to monitor one or more electrical characteristics of the route. The identification unit is configured to examine the one or more electrical characteristics of the route to determine whether a section of the route is potentially damaged. The secondary analysis module is configured to perform a secondary analysis of the potentially damaged section of the route to at least one of confirm that damage has occurred, identify a type of damage, or assess a level of damage.

1 . A system comprising:
 an application device configured to be disposed onboard a first vehicle of a first vehicle system traveling along a route and to be at least one of conductively or inductively coupled with the route during travel along the route;   a control unit configured to control supply of electric current from a power source to the application device in order to electrically inject an examination signal into the route via the application device;   a detection unit configured to monitor one or more electrical characteristics of the route in response to the examination signal being injected into the route;   an identification unit configured to examine the one or more electrical characteristics of the route in order to determine whether a section of the route extending between the application device and the detection unit is potentially damaged based on the one or more electrical characteristics; and   a secondary analysis module configured to, responsive to an identification of a potentially damaged section of the route by the identification unit, perform a secondary analysis of the potentially damaged section of the route to at least one of confirm that damage has occurred to the potentially damaged section of the route, identify a type of damage that has occurred to the potentially damaged section of the route, or assess a level of damage to the potentially damaged section of the route.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary analysis module is configured to analyze a signature of the one or more electrical characteristics and to perform the secondary analysis using the signature. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary analysis module comprises a secondary detection unit configured to obtain secondary data regarding the potentially damaged section of the track. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the detection unit is configured to be disposed on-board the first vehicle, and the secondary detection unit is configured to be disposed on-board a second vehicle of the first vehicle system. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the secondary detection unit comprises a video camera. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the video camera is configured to be disposed on-board the first vehicle, and the secondary data is obtained using timing information corresponding to a time when the first vehicle passed over the potentially damaged section of the route. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the secondary detection unit comprises an accelerometer. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the detection unit comprises a first receive coil oriented in a first direction toward a rail of the route, and wherein the secondary detection unit comprises a secondary receive coil disposed at about 90 degrees to the first direction toward the rail of the route. 
     
     
         9 . A method comprising:
 electrically injecting an examination signal into a route being traveled by a first vehicle system having at least a first vehicle, the examination signal being injected into the route using the first vehicle of the first vehicle system;   monitoring one or more electrical characteristics of the route responsive to the examination signal;   identifying, with an identification unit, a potentially damaged section of the route based on the one or more electrical characteristics; and   performing, with a secondary analysis module, responsive to an identification of the potentially damaged section of the route by the identification unit, a secondary analysis of the potentially damaged section of the route to at least one of confirm that damage has occurred to the potentially damaged section of the route, identify a type of damage that has occurred to the potentially damaged section of the route, or assess a level of damage to the potentially damaged section of the route.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the monitoring the one or more electrical characteristics of the route comprises detecting the examination signal using a detection unit disposed onboard the first vehicle, and further comprising detecting secondary information utilized by the secondary analysis module using a secondary detection unit. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the secondary detection unit is disposed onboard a second vehicle of the vehicle system. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising activating the secondary detection unit responsive to the identification of the potentially damaged section of the route by the identification unit. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the secondary information is obtained using timing information corresponding to a time when the first vehicle passed over the potentially damaged section of the route. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the performing the secondary analysis comprises analyzing a signature of the one or more electrical characteristics. 
     
     
         15 . A tangible and non-transitory computer readable medium comprising one or more computer software modules configured to direct one or more processors to:
 control injection of an examination signal into a route being traveled by a first vehicle system having at least a first vehicle, the examination signal being injected into the route using the first vehicle of the first vehicle system;   monitor one or more electrical characteristics of the route responsive to the examination signal;   identify a potentially damaged section of the route based on the one or more electrical characteristics; and   perform, responsive to an identification of the potentially damaged section of the route by the identification unit, a secondary analysis of the potentially damaged section of the route to at least one of confirm that damage has occurred to the potentially damaged section of the route, identify a type of damage that has occurred to the potentially damaged section of the route, or assess a level of damage to the potentially damaged section of the route.   
     
     
         16 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the computer readable medium is further configured to direct the one or more processors to detect the one or more electrical characteristics of the route using a detection unit disposed onboard the first vehicle, and to detect secondary information for use with the secondary analysis using a secondary detection unit. 
     
     
         17 . The computer readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the secondary detection unit is disposed onboard a second vehicle of the vehicle system. 
     
     
         18 . The computer readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the computer readable medium is further configured to direct the one or more processors to activate the secondary detection unit responsive to the identification of a potentially damaged section of the route by the identification unit. 
     
     
         19 . The computer readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the computer readable medium is further configured to direct the one or more processors to obtain the secondary information using timing information corresponding to a time when the first vehicle passed over the potentially damaged section of the route. 
     
     
         20 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the computer readable medium is further configured to direct the one or more processors to perform the secondary analysis using a signature of the one or more electrical characteristics.