INDUSTRY News
New device monitors the condition of rail tracks
Edinburgh-based Machines With Vision has teamed up with product development specialist Wideblue to develop new sophisticated technology that helps railways monitor the condition of tracks more efficiently.
The solution is 100 times more accurate than GPS and can work in difficult environments such as tunnels. It uses train- mounted cameras and sensors to build a map of the ground beneath the train, offering precise data as to the train’s location; the system can capture and process images at up to 200km/hr to millimetre accuracy. Complex algorithms and machine learning are then used to analyse the collected data. The benefit for the railways is an inexpensive and efficient way of collecting data to optimise maintenance. However, one hurdle the team had to overcome was gaining EMC compliance and rail regulatory approval for the prototype product. For help it turned to Glasgow-based product development firm Wideblue. Wideblue implemented a redesign of a key aspect of the system based on results from internal investigation and exploratory testing. Support was also provided for the subsequent re-testing, enabling the product to be certified for full regulatory compliance. “It was vital that Machines With Vision’s equipment did not interfere with other systems on the train. Following investigations into some malfunctions and identifying the root cause, we redesigned the core power supply of the system to make it compliant with railway regulatory standards for electromagnetic emissions and immunity. Some mechanical modifications were also undertaken to accommodate the new power supply design and ensure a robust solution was delivered to Machines With Vision,” said Mark Sansom, project manager at Wideblue. Machines With Vision co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Tim Lukins, added: “It has been good experience working with the team at Wideblue. We are not experts in the EMC compliance rules, so it was great having a partner with a detailed understanding of the regulations, product design and electronics to resolve the issue.”
ABB COLUMN
STAYING AHEAD WITH ROBOTIC AUTOMATION
New technologies may be offering exciting opportunities for industry, but it can be difficult to keep up with what’s going on if your main preoccupation is keeping your business running. You may know you need to change, but with all the buzzwords around digitalisation, smart factories and Industry 4.0 etc, how do you pick the best way forward, especially with the
uncertainty surrounding the combined impacts of Brexit and the Covid pandemic?
One thing is certain – for UK manufacturing to compete with the best in the world, it must do what the best in the world are doing. A look at the latest statistics from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) shows countries such as Mexico, Vietnam and the Czech Republic adopting robots in increasing numbers, producing corresponding benefits in their manufacturing performance. China, the world’s manufacturing powerhouse, is increasingly adopting state-of-the-art technologies, taking huge strides towards automating its manufacturing sector, with companies across the country introducing a staggering 140,492 robots in 2019. As an industrial robot supplier, naturally we are keen to see
more UK SMEs embracing robotic automation. However, we also understand that it can be difficult for companies to spare the time and technical resources to get up to speed on what’s on offer and how to introduce robots into their operations. With ABB, introducing robots doesn’t have to be complicated. We offer a range of robotic solutions, from portable cobots such as our YuMi and GoFa, Delta robots for picking and packing, through to heavy-duty industrial robots for lifting payloads to 1,000kg. We can help you identify the tasks that are easiest to automate and demonstrate how the latest collaborative and scaleable modular robot solutions, plus simplified programming and user interfaces, are making it much easier to fit robots into existing production layouts. We can also offer comprehensive training, service and support, plus a network of specialised systems integrator partners, to help you get the best solution for your requirements, both now and in the longer term. Call us on 01908 350300 or email us at
robotics@gb.abb.com ref. ‘Grow with robots’.
Nigel Platt LBL Manager, UK and Ireland, ABB Robotics
automationmagazine.co.uk
Automation | December/January 2022
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