Aiming to reduce the possibilities of signals failing, Indian Railways has undertaken remote condition monitoring of the system, a new approach for the national transporter, to predict failures through the effective use of Artificial Intelligence.
Currently, the railways follow a manual maintenance system and adopt find-and-fix methods rather than predict-and-prevent approach.
"Now, we are introducing remote condition monitoring using non-intrusive sensors for continuous online monitoring of signals, track circuits, axle counters and their sub-systems of interlocking, power supply systems including the voltage and current levels, relays, timers," said a senior Railway Ministry official involved with the project.
The failure of signals is one of the major reasons for train accidents and delays.
Remote monitoring of signalling is currently operational in Britain.
This will enable the prediction of signalling asset failures, automated self-correction, and informed decisions on intervention strategies, said the official.
The railways have decided that a trial will be taken up in two sections of Western Railway and South Western Railway at Ahmedabad-Vadodara and Bengaluru-Mysuru.
Depending on the feedback, the system will then gradually be extended to other sections.
(Published in an arrangement from IANS.)
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