Summary:
Now we are seriously considering the use of high-endurance, long-range UAVs for better monitoring of assets, maintenance, crowd management and enhanced safety in train operations.” The UAVs are ‘intelligent’ in as much as they are fitted with autopilot, gyroscope and have the ability to self-navigate, home and land using the Global Positioning System . Hence UAVs offer several potential benefits for the Railways.”He said, “With drones we can have access to real time aerial view of the assets like tracks, signals, overhead high tension cables, ability to detect any miscreant activity or obstruction on the track and instantly relay the information to the control room via wireless transmission. AGRA: The North Central Railway (NCR) is all set to go the aerial way in a bid to better monitor various operations including maintaining its assets, crowd management and enhanced safety in train operations.In a recent meeting chaired by general manager of NCR, M C Chauhan and experts in the field of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), decided to explore the potential of UAVs in making the train journey of an average passenger. Currently NCR is using drones on a trial basis in the maintenance of railway bridges.According to public relation officer, Amit Malviya of NCR, “During the discussions in the meeting, it emerged that there were a number of UAV-platforms available for application from range as low as 3km and endurance as little as 15 minutes to range as far as 50km and endurance as high as 6 hours..