Abstract

A self-propelled remotely controlled pilot vehicle adapted for use on raiad tracks to monitor hazardous conditions and obstacles on the railroad tracks. The pilot vehicle precedes a train along the railroad tracks at a distance which will allow the train to come to a complete stop in the event the pilot vehicle encounters a hazardous condition on the track. The pilot vehicle is equipped with a sensor array which measures a variety of different parameters such as the presence of noxious gases, moisture in the atmosphere, breakage in one or both rails of the track and orientation with respect to the force of gravity as well as the yaw, pitch and roll attitude of the tracks upon which the pilot vehicle is riding. The pilot vehicle is also equipped with a television camera which provides a visual image of the railroad track ahead of the pilot vehicle to the engineer of the train. An infrared camera which is mounted on the front of the pilot vehicle generates an infrared image of the tracks. Information gathered by the pilot vehicle's sensor array is supplied to a computer on board the pilot vehicle and is also transmitted to the train to enable the engineer to be apprised of conditions existing on the tracks ahead of the train in order to have time to react to dangerous situations on the railroad tracks.