Automated, Drone-Based Grade Crossing Inspection

AXIS (Aerial Crossing Inspection System) is an innovative highway-rail grade crossing inspection system that uses UAVs, cloud processing and clustered-computing to perform inspections with unprecedented efficiency. AXIS is an end-to-end solution that preplans inspection flight paths, uses photogrammetry to create a 3D model of the crossing, calculates the crossing’s risk profile and generates detailed reports that are summarized on a dashboard that is dynamically updated. Key metrics that help build a crossing’s risk profile include the maximum clearance, identification of required signage and line of sight. The development of a stand-alone mobile application will help this system will become fully automated, including the transfer of flight plans to the drone and uploading images for processing as flights are taking place. The team will provide a way to give inspectors immediate feedback on the condition of the crossing by first taking five images at a higher altitude that will be processed as the remainder of the flight is taking place. AXIS will be able to adapt to each stakeholder’s vision for the system which includes incorporating different models and risk-profile criteria as defined by the user.