Photonics system for safer rail transport

Together with OptiCE Photonics s.r.o., we have completed a program focused on dynamic weighing of rolling stock. The project “Photonic System for Dynamic Weighing of Rolling Stock” responds to the needs of railway infrastructure managers and heavy industry in the form of an innovative solution using fiber optic sensors and brings an effective diagnostic system for the security of the railway line.

Project objective

One of the main challenges faced by rail system operators is the uneven distribution of the load in individual wagons. This can result in uneven wear of the rail surface, damage to the roling stock or more severe incidents, such as vibration or derailment of the train.

Technology

We have developed specialized sensors based on the fiber Bragg grid (FBG) to measure the weight on individual wheels or the passing speed of the train. Thanks to their high sensitivity and fast response, it is now possible to measure critical parameters of trains. The developed technology was tested on the railway siding at Třinec Ironworks.

Other visions

Thanks to the specific properties of optical fibers, such as immunity to electromagnetic field interference, high temperature and chemical resistance, and the ability to measure a wide range of external quantities, the sensors offer considerable potential for future use in control, diagnostic, and autonomous systems for the management of railway infrastructure.

We believe that the developed technology will contribute to safer and more efficient railway transport and infrastructure, serve as a basis for further development and innovation in this area, and enable possible future use for higher train speeds. If you are interested in the project, do not hesitate to contact us for more information: https://safibra.com/contacts/.

This project has been financed with the state support of the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of Transport of the Czech Republic within the TRANSPORT 2020+ Programme.