TRI-NETRA – Terrain imaging for diesel dRivers Infra-red, Enhanced Optical & Radar Assisted system
Ministry of Railways, Railway Board has initiated a proposal to
install TRI-NETRA systems on locomotives for enhancing the vision of Locomotive
Pilots in inclement weather. TRI-NETRA stands for – Terrain imaging
for diesel dRivers INfra-red, Enhanced opTical & Radar Assisted system.
How it operates?
TRI-NETRA system is made up of high-resolution optical video
camera, high sensitivity infra-red video camera and additionally a radar-based
terrain mapping system. These three components of the system act as three eyes
(Tri-Netra) of the Locomotive Pilot.
- TRI-NETRA is designed to “see” the terrain ahead of the running locomotive during inclement weather by combining the images captured by the three sub-systems and to create a composite video image which shall be displayed in front of the Loco Pilot on a computer monitor.
Significance:
During fog, heavy rain and also during night, the locomotive
pilots face serious challenges in looking out ahead to spot any obstruction on
the track such as vehicles which get stuck while crossing the track or trees or
boulders which have fallen across the track etc. Because of the heavy momentum of
the running train, the train driver has to always adjust the speed of the train
such that he or she can stop the train on visually seeing the obstruction. In
fair weather and in daytime, this is not a problem since train driver has a
clear view of the track ahead. But in poor visibility, he has to reduce the
speed suitably so that the brakes can be applied in time to stop the train
without hitting the obstructions.
Background:
The concept of TRI-NETRA was developed by Development Cell under
the guidance of Member Mechanical, Railway Board while brainstorming on how to
use the technology employed by fighter aircrafts to see through clouds and
operate in pitch darkness and the technology used by naval ships in mapping the
ocean floor and navigating in the night.
