Supply Side: Rail Vision, North American Rail Solutions/Strategic Rail

Rail Vision systems are said to detect objects on and along the tracks from a distance of up to 1.2 miles (2 kilometers)—in real time, as well as in all weather and light conditions. When an obstacle is detected, the system sends visual and acoustic alerts in real-time to both the operator and the command-and-control center. (Image Courtesy of Rail Vision)

Rail Vision Ltd. receives a U.S. patent notice of allowance for its AI (Artificial Intelligence)-based railway obstacle detection system. Also, North American Rail Solutions acquires Strategic Rail, LLC in Tomahawk, Wis.

Rail Vision 

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued a notice of allowance for Rail Vision’s AI-powered railway obstacle detection system, the Ra’anana, Israel-based supplier reported May 21.  

“This patent outlines an advanced method for enhancing rail safety through the use of electro-optical imaging technologies combined with artificial intelligence,” according to Rail Vision. “The system is designed to significantly reduce collisions on railroads by employing an artificial intelligence model that includes comprehensive scene analysis and image processing techniques.”

Among the patent’s features:

• Advanced electro-optical imaging. Rail Vision said its system uses “single spectrum or multispectral imaging to capture comprehensive visuals of the train’s pathway and its surroundings.”
• AI-driven image processing. The Rail Vision system “[i]ncorporates deep learning through convolutional neural networks to precisely determine the railway path and detect potential obstacles along and near the path,” according to the supplier.
• Enhanced safety measures. Rail Vision reported that its system “[a]ims to dramatically reduce collision risks, thereby increasing the safety of rail operations.”

“This patent indicates Rail Vision’s commitment and devotion to the railway industry, pioneering safety and operational efficiency from switching operations to main line freight and passenger journeys,” Rail Vision CEO Shahar Hania said. “We believe that our ADAS AI-driven obstacle detection system represents a significant technological advancement in ensuring the safety of trains by identifying and assessing obstacles in real-time, which is critical for the prevention of accidents.”

In related developments, Rail Vision recently received an order from Loram for its AI-driven Shunting Yard System for a pilot project “aimed at leveraging Rail Vision’s advanced technology to enhance Loram’s rail track maintenance operations,” and entered into a non-binding memorandum of understanding with a U.S. railway technologies company for the distribution of its Main Line and Switch Yard systems.

North American Rail Solutions / Strategic Rail

North American Rail Solutions, through its Fort Worth, Tex.-based American Track subsidiary, has acquired Tomahawk, Wis.-based Strategic Rail, which was established in 2005 by Dianna and Travis Gustafson, and provides Class I, short line, and industrial railroads with grapple truck operations, material handling, railcar movements and vegetation control. The merged companies will continue as American Track.

Strategic Rail will add geographic reach in the Great Lakes area and expanded railway support service offerings to construction and maintenance company American Track, according to North American Rail Solutions, a provider of industrial rail inspection, construction, maintenance, terminal and support services.

“Once we met the American Track team, we knew their goals were aligned with our own dreams to provide additional quality services to our customers and offer our staff more advancement options in the future,” Dianna Gustafson said.

This acquisition follows North American Rail Solutions’ recent purchases of Condor Signals and Communications of Ontario, Canada, and West Rail Construction, LLC, of Vancouver, Wash.