Platform safety on the radar for researchers
20.05.12
Platform safety on the radar for researchers
Systems used to detect aircraft and ships could soon be fitted in train stations to quickly identify objects or even people that have fallen on the tracks, preventing serious accidents and reducing delays that are frequently caused by these mishaps.
Used in conjunction with CCTV, which can often blur or become obstructed, a radar device could quickly identify luggage items that regularly fall off station platforms and in the event of a person falling on the tracks, feedback to a system that stops oncoming trains and cuts the high voltage of the lines.
The detection system, demonstrated today, 6 January, in IOP Publishing's journal Measurement Science and Technology , sends ultra wideband radio waves towards objects and then records them as they bounce back, revealing the intricate characteristics of the object in question.
"The aim of the system is to identify any objects or persons that may have fallen onto the tracks. In a large, capital city underground, this can happen two to three times a week and lead to significantly long service interruptions.
Source: EurekAlert (press release)