Railways to Launch Pilot Project Using Drones to Detect Uneven Freight Loading
The Ministry of Railways has started a pilot project to use drones to monitor uneven loading in freight trains in an effort to improve safety and operational efficiency. According to a ministry directive dated June 10, the project directs South Eastern Railway (SER), South East Central Railway (SECR), and South Western Railway (SWR), three important railway zones, to hire drones on a contract basis for this project.
Uneven loading has long been recognized by railroad experts as a primary cause of freight train derailments. The ministry hopes to use drone technology to use visual analytics and real-time surveillance to make freight terminal operations safer and more dependable.
“Drone-based monitoring has emerged as a viable solution with the growing emphasis on safety, efficiency, and the technological modernization of freight operations,” the ministry stated in its message to the zones. By monitoring the loading procedure, the drones will be able to identify and stop load imbalance in wagons early on.
Drones will be used in the pilot project to create aerial imagery, track load distribution patterns, and provide real-time load profiling. Drones will improve oversight at busy terminals by assisting in the detection of unsafe or uneven loading through automated visual analysis.
The deployment of certified drone operators, aerial rake scanning prior to dispatch, live video transmission, and the monthly submission of data logs and exception reports are all included in the ministry’s extensive scope of work.
Drones have also been urged by railway departments to survey difficult areas. Zones have been asked to identify one or two terminals with a history of uneven loading incidents and significant cargo handling.
Following the pilot’s three-month duration, participating zones must submit a thorough evaluation report determining whether the program can be implemented nationally.
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