IntelliRail, which designs, builds and implements AI-based diagnostic products for the railways, has been selected by Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) to deliver its “Make in India” Automated Wheel Profile Measurement System (AWPMS) at Madhavaram Depot of the Chennai Metro.
The installation of
the AWPMS will be overseen by the NKBAB Consortium, a delivery partner for
CMRL, responsible for the expansion of Phase II, Corridor 4. The wayside wheel
profile measurement system will be implemented at Madhavaram Depot, the largest
depot for the Chennai Metro’s Phase II project. The depot also serves
as a critical maintenance and stabling facility for trains on corridors 3,
4, and 5. The AWPMS will be installed and implemented under the supervision of
BEML, which is responsible for providing the complete package of diagnostic
systems at this depot.
Why IntelliRail’s
AWPMS Stood Apart From the Rest
IntelliRail’s automated wheel profile measurement system (IntelliWPMS) is a cutting-edge wayside system, powered by
machine vision and edge computing. The product has been developed through a
technology collaboration with Spain-based Visiona Control Industrial S.L., a
company that has implemented AWPMS systems in Europe since 2015.
The AWPMS is a
perfect fit for the Indian government’s “Make in India” mandate and the shift
of Metro operations to condition-based maintenance (CBM) and Unmanned Train
Operations (UTO). Automated, remote monitoring and real-time data analytics are
critical for seamless CBM and UTO. Earlier this year,
IntelliRail successfully delivered the first Make in India Automated Wheel
Profile Measurement System (AWPMS) for Mumbai Metro.
The wheel is one of the most important
components of a train, and its profile forms the rail-wheel interface. It
becomes critical to monitor wheel parameters so that defects are identified
early and maintenance can be done on time. An automated system ensures that
wheel monitoring can be done even while the wagons are moving. This ensures the
smooth running of trains, while extending the life of both wheels and tracks.
IntelliWPMS enables
contactless, cloud-based wheel health monitoring of trains moving at speeds of
up to 120 kmph. It uses a system of lasers and cameras to capture accurate data
on a wide range of parameters, including the flange thickness, flange height,
wheel diameter, back-to-back gauge and more, of each wheelset. Human dependency
is minimised with machine vision, a technology that “sees,” interprets and
gathers visual information. This leads to improved accuracy, efficiency
and speed of inspection.
IntelliRail’s wayside
wheel profile measurement system uses 6 modules, instead of the 4 modules used
by most other WPMS systems. The extra modules provide additional data to
increase the accuracy of wheel diameter measurements.
A proprietary edge
computing-powered Control Panel is installed at the wayside, in proximity to
each laser and camera module. The data collected by the modules are directly
sent to the Control Panel for initial analysis (cleaning and optimisation of
images). The optimised data is sent to the Cloud (IntelliCloud) for further
processing, analysis and reporting. This meaningfully lower the cost of data
transmission, while preventing data lags and delays.
The analysed data is
shared in near real-time in graphical form for easy identification of
deviations from the standard wheel parameters.
With IntelliWPMS,
Chennai Metro will be able to ensure proactive repair and replacement decisions
without affecting the availability of its assets. The automated wheel profile
measurement system will play a crucial role in upholding safety and extending
the life of one of the most expensive railway assets.
“Metros across India are in the process of
making a paradigm shift to condition-based maintenance. The move will improve
the reliability and availability of railway assets and reduce maintenance
costs. IntelliRail’s WPMS being chosen for this mission is a strong vote of
confidence for our offerings, furthering our vision to take the AWPMS to the
global market,” IntelliRail CEO Piyush Nigam said.
Making India a Global
Benchmark
IntelliRail’s AWPMS is
a cutting-edge product that aligns with the Indian government’s Make in India,
Make for the World mission. The automated wheel profile measurement system is a
key part of IntelliRail’s vision of helping make the India’s railway and metro
systems future-ready.
Using laser
triangulation and machine learning technology, IntelliWPMS offers advantages
like:
●
No-contact
measurements, eliminating physical
contact and ensuring the safety of trains and equipment.
●
Highly
accurate measurements of ~0.5 mm
for wheel profile and ~1.0 mm for wheel diameter.
●
High-speed
data capture and real-time
processing.
●
No major
civil work required to install and
implement the AWPMS.
●
Edge
computing allows data to be
available as soon as the train passes the modules.
●
Alerts can
be sent via SMS and/or email immediately
on identifying any wheel parameter that is out of range.
A unique feature is
that IntelliCloud can be accessed by stakeholders on their smartphone (Android
and iPhone) within minutes of a train passing the AWPMS. Stakeholders can
continuously monitor or download detailed reports on their preferred device,
smartphone or computer.
About IntelliRail
A brand owned by
NouvoRail Tech Private Limited, IntelliRail provides next-gen measurement and monitoring solutions for
Railway and Metro systems. It designs, develops, manufactures, and maintains
Machine Vision and Machine Learning powered integrated diagnostic products that
increase asset availability, reduce maintenance costs and improve efficiency of
the asset maintenance process.
IntelliRail aims to
remain at the forefront of innovation in automating inspection and measurement,
reducing the need for manual intervention to lower the risk to personnel and of
human error. The goal is to bring dependable solutions that maximise the
safety, performance, reliability and efficiency of key railway assets.