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Introduction
In the world of rail transportation, efficiency is crucial. Rail yards, the hubs where trains are assembled, sorted, and dispatched, play a vital role in ensuring that freight and passengers reach their destinations on time. However, the complex operations within these yards are often manual and can be a bottleneck, leading to delays and increased operational costs. This is where Husky Observer, a fully integrated robotics platform, comes in.
Husky Observer Optimizes Processes at Rail Yard
Husky Observer is a rugged, autonomous inspection system that can navigate autonomously to GPS coordinates and collect data using onboard cameras and sensors while avoiding obstacles. It uses our OutdoorNav autonomy software, a flexible and powerful GNSS-based autonomy stack for outdoor environments.
Husky Observer pointing camera towards train car links.
Our team recently had the opportunity to deploy Husky Observer at a Class 1 automotive rail yard in the southern United States. The customer was looking at applications for an autonomous inspection platform, including measuring positions of assets, safety checks, and RFID scanning. Specifically, they were looking for an automated solution for measuring the distance between freight cars.
Setting Up the Autonomous Mission
The first task was to create the mission for Husky Observer by defining the allowable driving areas in the rail yard environment via Clearpath’s OutdoorNAV autonomy software. Inspection locations and tasks were then defined on the interactive map by the operator. At each inspection location, Husky Observer was programmed to position its integrated pan-tilt-zoom camera and capture images between the railcars.
AMR allowable driving areas on OutdoorNAV autonomy software user interface.
Running the Mission
The robot was then ready to be sent out on its mission. Using its onboard sensor suite, the robot navigated autonomously through the GNSS-constrained environment and stopped at inspection points to collect data. The operator conveniently monitored the robot’s progress remotely via the web user interface.
View of train car links from Husky Observer camera on OutdoorNAV autonomy software user interface.
Analyzing the Data
Husky Observer comes with a built-in computer that can be upgraded with a GPU. In this use case, a powerful, GPU-enabled secondary computer was implemented on the robot for 3D point cloud processing and machine learning processing of images. With this, the team is able to implement trained AI models specific to the application. The system can also be set up to send data live to a cloud service or downloaded after missions for post-processing on another computer.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Husky Observer has the potential to transform operations in rail yard environments and other industrial facilities. Its ability to navigate autonomously, collect data, and process it in real-time makes it an ideal solution for applications that require precision and efficiency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: What is Husky Observer?
Husky Observer is a rugged, autonomous inspection system that can navigate autonomously to GPS coordinates and collect data using onboard cameras and sensors while avoiding obstacles.
Question 2: What is the purpose of Husky Observer?
The purpose of Husky Observer is to provide an automated solution for measuring the distance between freight cars, improving the efficiency and accuracy of rail yard operations.
Question 3: How does Husky Observer work?
Husky Observer uses its onboard sensor suite to navigate autonomously through the rail yard environment and stop at inspection points to collect data. The operator can monitor the robot’s progress remotely via the web user interface.
Question 4: What are the benefits of using Husky Observer?
The benefits of using Husky Observer include improved efficiency, accuracy, and safety in rail yard operations. It also reduces the need for manual labor and minimizes the risk of human error.
Question 5: Can Husky Observer be customized for specific applications?
Yes, Husky Observer can be customized for specific applications. The system can be configured to meet the specific needs of the user, including the type of data collected and the processing requirements.
