This is interesting:
https://newatlas.com/drones/staaker-bg-300-railway-inspection-drone/?fbclid=IwAR2Gmsr9ZYBQcVEhjEI6z2psbczdD1YC-H2pel1krAwFIcnEhwBQnIeJxr4
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
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...
Union Pacific: 2017
https://www.up.com/aboutup/community/inside_track/railroad-learns-to-fly.htm
Just studying the possibilities, of course.
2019:
https://www.progressiverailroading.com/mow/article/Railroads-continue-to-tap-drone-technology-to-inspect-track-bridges--57270
Cheers, Ed
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.
I used to work with Bob Meder (mentioned in the UP article).
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com