Route Examination System And Method

Abstract

A route examination system includes a thermographic camera configured to be logically or mechanically coupled with a vehicle that travels along a route. The thermographic camera is also configured to sense infrared radiation emitted or reflected from the route and to generate a sensed thermal signature representative of the infrared radiation that is sensed. The system also includes a computer readable memory device configured to store a designated thermal signature representative of infrared radiation emitted from a segment of the route that is not damaged. The system also includes an analysis processor configured to determine a condition of a first portion of the route relative to other portions of the route at least in part by comparing the sensed thermal signature and the designated thermal signature.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 sensing radiation emitted or reflected from a route using a sensor onboard a vehicle traveling along the route;   determining a first signature representative of the radiation that is sensed from the route;   comparing the first signature with a stored signature of radiation emitted or reflected from an undamaged route; and   directing a vehicle controller of the vehicle to autonomously slow movement of the vehicle responsive to comparing the first signature with the stored signature.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the stored signature is a combination of previously sensed signatures of the route as sensed by one or more of the sensor or at least one other sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the radiation that is sensed is light emitted or reflected from the route. 
     
     
         4 . A system comprising:
 a sensor configured to be logically or mechanically coupled with a vehicle that travels along a route, the sensor configured to sense radiation emitted or reflected from the route, the sensor configured to generate a first signature representative of the radiation that is sensed from the route; and   one or more processors configured to compare the first signature with a stored signature of radiation emitted or reflected from an undamaged route, the one or more processors also configured to determine a change to the route based on a comparison of the first signature with the stored signature, and the one or more processors are further configured to implement one or more actions in response to the change of the route that is determined.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine a rate of the change to the route based on the comparison of the first signature with the stored signature, and the one or more processors are further configured to implement the one or more actions in response to the rate of the change of the route that is determined. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the stored signature is a thermal signature of infrared radiation emitted by or reflected from the undamaged route. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the stored signature is a combination of previously sensed signatures of the route as sensed by one or more of the sensor or at least one other sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to direct a vehicle controller of the vehicle to autonomously change movement of the vehicle responsive to the one or more processors determining that the route is damaged. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the stored signature is a thermal signature of infrared radiation emitted by or reflected from the undamaged route. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine that the route is damaged based on both the first thermal signature and on external or contextual information. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the stored signature is a combination of previously sensed signatures of the route as sensed by one or more of the sensor or at least one other sensor. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 with a sensor logically or mechanically coupled with a vehicle that travels along a route, sensing radiation emitted or reflected from the route, and, with the sensor, generating a first signature representative of the radiation that is sensed from the route; and   with one or more processors:
 comparing the first signature with a stored signature of radiation emitted or reflected from an undamaged route; 
 determining a change to the route based on a comparison of the first signature with the stored signature; and 
 implementing one or more actions in response to the change of the route that is determined. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein determining the change to the route comprises, with the one or more processors, determining a rate of the change to the route based on the comparison of the first signature with the stored signature, and wherein the one or more actions are implemented in response to the rate of the change of the route that is determined. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the stored signature is a thermal signature of infrared radiation emitted by or reflected from the undamaged route. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising, with the one or more processors, determining that the route is damaged based on both the first thermal signature and on external or contextual information, wherein the one or more actions are implemented in response to determining that the route is damaged. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the stored signature is a combination of previously sensed signatures of the route as sensed by one or more of the sensor or at least one other sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising, with the one or more processors, directing a vehicle controller of the vehicle to autonomously change movement of the vehicle responsive to the one or more processors determining that the route is damaged. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the stored signature is a thermal signature of infrared radiation emitted by or reflected from the undamaged route. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the route is determined as damaged based on both the first thermal signature and on external or contextual information. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the stored signature is a combination of previously sensed signatures of the route as sensed by one or more of the sensor or at least one other sensor.