Railroad track sensor system

Abstract

The invention provides a track sensor system for a railroad. The track sensor system includes a track sensor device has, in its interior, a first actuator coupled to a first inductor via a first actuator shaft, and a second actuator coupled to a second inductor via a second actuator shaft. A power system provides power distribution to the actuators and inductors. An input/output communications and railroad computing device provide independent or additional functionality to the track sensor system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adjustable railroad track sensor system, comprising:
 a weather-resilient casing having an interior,   the interior comprising a first actuator coupled to a first inductor via a first actuator shaft, and a second actuator coupled to a second inductor via a second actuator shaft; and   a power system coupled to a power source, and adapted to provide power to the first actuator, the second actuator, the first inductor, the second inductor.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising an input/output communications system having a transceiver coupled to the power system. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  further comprising a LIDAR camera coupled to the input/output communications system. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  where the power system comprises a battery. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first actuator is a first step motor. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a thermal sensor coupled to the input/output communications system. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the input/output communications system comprises a cellular antenna. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the input/output device comprises a near-field wireless antenna, and the input/output device comprises a transceiver adapted for cellular communications. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the input/output communications system is adapted to provide a communications channel for controlling a transmission of the LIDAR camera. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the power source comprises a battery, and is coupled to a remote power source chosen from: a wind power generator system, or a solar power panel system. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the input/output communications system is adapted to communicate wirelessly via a communications source chosen from at least one of: a near-field wireless communications system, a cellular communications system, or a satellite communications system. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a railroad computing device coupled to the power system, and adapted to determine a position of the first inductor.