The Challenges - Train Informatics

Imagine you are a station master in a train station of the 21st century. A train went by your station without stopping. Is it possible for you to design a communication device or system by which it will be possible to capture all essential knowledge of the train passing by; for example length, number of bogies, speed, etc? How far you go towards determining the characteristics of the rolling stock, i.e. passenger coaches, goods compartments, etc? Note that you are not allowed to make additions to the train. However, you have control over the track near your station and you can install wired or wireless devices on your station premises.

You can review some of the existing products that GE offers in this area such as hot bearing detection, hot wheel detection are available at www.getransportation.com/na/en/signalingcommunications.html

Please note that some of the products require additions to the train and may not measure all the parameter of interest from the train. The solution you develop will have to be lowest possible cost and should consider weather, people, and environment into consideration. You will be evaluated on getting the maximum data about the train with the lowest cost solution.