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This article doesn't touch upon it, but the tasks of these trains are computer vision and AI problems. The majority of inspection work is done by software. JR

by elif 4y ago

This article doesn't touch upon it, but the tasks of these trains are computer vision and AI problems. The majority of inspection work is done by software. JR has aspirational plans that by 2032 all of these maintenance vehicles will be fully autonomous.

GalenErso 4y ago
Can you expand on that? The article doesn't explain how these trains do maintenance exactly.
- all2 4y ago
  One of the units is described as smoothing the tracks to the micrometer level. I assume this is something like a camera array and tooling combo, where the tracks are imaged in 3D using the cameras, and abrupt changes in surface level are annotated, the grinding equipment is adjusted to the correct placement to remove the changes in surface level. There are a few cars on the unit, so I expect this process happens 2, 3, or even 5 times for a given segment of track.
  - astrobe_ 4y ago
    Would cameras be accurate enough for this task? It seems to me that laser-based measures would be more fit to the task.
    - all2 4y ago
      Yes, even relatively low resolution cameras can provide enough information to track an object with high precision. For example, optical mice can provide high resolution tracking in 2D.
- elif 4y ago
  unfortunately the most recent information i got on it was on live NHK air and i can't find a copy of the video. here is an english language document i found from 2017 that shows the new (at the time) Automated Obstacle Detection Vehicles but doesn't mention the efforts to eliminate humans from the loop. https://international-railway-safety-council.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/sasaki-safety-system-for-track-maintenance-vehicle-operation-of-shinkansen.pdf https://international-railway-safety-council.com/wp-content/...
- elif 4y ago
  and of course there is the infamous doctor yellow https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Yellow https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Yellow which performs its work at full shinkansen speed.

by elif 4y ago

GalenErso 4y ago

Can you expand on that? The article doesn't explain how these trains do maintenance exactly.

all2 4y ago
One of the units is described as smoothing the tracks to the micrometer level. I assume this is something like a camera array and tooling combo, where the tracks are imaged in 3D using the cameras, and abrupt changes in surface level are annotated, the grinding equipment is adjusted to the correct placement to remove the changes in surface level. There are a few cars on the unit, so I expect this process happens 2, 3, or even 5 times for a given segment of track.
- astrobe_ 4y ago
  Would cameras be accurate enough for this task? It seems to me that laser-based measures would be more fit to the task.
  - all2 4y ago
    Yes, even relatively low resolution cameras can provide enough information to track an object with high precision. For example, optical mice can provide high resolution tracking in 2D.
elif 4y ago
unfortunately the most recent information i got on it was on live NHK air and i can't find a copy of the video. here is an english language document i found from 2017 that shows the new (at the time) Automated Obstacle Detection Vehicles but doesn't mention the efforts to eliminate humans from the loop. https://international-railway-safety-council.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/sasaki-safety-system-for-track-maintenance-vehicle-operation-of-shinkansen.pdf https://international-railway-safety-council.com/wp-content/...
elif 4y ago
and of course there is the infamous doctor yellow https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Yellow https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Yellow which performs its work at full shinkansen speed.