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New rail inspection drone

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  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
New rail inspection drone
Posted by hon30critter on Wednesday, August 25, 2021 11:23 AM

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Wednesday, August 25, 2021 11:40 AM

Note the obvious possibilities for a device of this general kind in place of the 'super-conductor' model for reaching or assisting with 'problem' trains.

The rather obvious range of apparently unsolved issues will suggest themselves to those who have followed autonomous rail vehicle discussions here over the years...

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Wednesday, August 25, 2021 11:34 PM
  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Thursday, August 26, 2021 5:21 PM

But note the key difference, and it's a big one: the new drone is a railborne vehicle that -- like a cockroach, perhaps -- has the ability to fly, but almost never uses it.  A great many of the theoretical and practical objections to 'all-flying drones' (like those in the articles Ed cited) are not present or not as critica when the device primarily rolls on load-bearing wheels and can be kept charged easily from a range of fixed or portable sources.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Omaha, NE
  • 10,621 posts
Posted by dehusman on Thursday, August 26, 2021 7:18 PM

I used to work with Bob Meder (mentioned in the UP article).

Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com

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