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SeeTrain and SeeRail are fully integrated OCR systems that automatically read and record the container ISO code numbers that are transported by rail cars. These systems detect and recognize one or two stacks of containers, and report the recognition information and images to the port's information network.

The SeeTrain and SeeRail systems include all hardware and software components for the installation at the rail side. Utilizing RFID readers, rail car number information can be read and reported along with the container ISO code readings.

A sample portal SeeTrain installation (at the Port of  Los Angeles) is shown in the following photo.  The system is one of many systems ordered which are now being deployed in the US west coast ports. An array of cameras, sensors and illumination units is mounted on both sides of the tracks in a configuration designed to read containers in one or two stack configurations..

While the train enters or exits the terminal, the system scans the passing containers and automatically detects them, recognizes their ISO codes, and reports the results and images (a message is transmitted for each container) to the terminal, optionally along with the railcar numbers.

The rail recognition systems differ in the following installation types-

SeeTrain portal system - a single track Windows based recognition system. This system is designed for entry or exit gates (portals), or can be installed within the yard. The system is designed for slow to medium-speed trains. A sample installation is shown above.

SeeRail intermodal system - a multiple track Windows based recognition system. This system is used for inter-modal sites. The system is installed at locations where the equipment cannot be installed near the two sides of the railway, as in the case of multiple tracks. The system is designed for high speed trains. A sample installation is shown below of a 3 track site, with an additional bypass track. The cameras and illumination units are installed on the sides and on top of an existing signal bridge.

 Each system is controlled by a PC with Windows based application and handles one stack.  Two identical PCs are required for double stacked container configurations.

The Windows-based application controls the cameras, sets and pulses of the solid-state illumination units, interfaces the sensors, performs the recognition, records and stores the results and images and then outputs the results via the network. The results are then transmitted to the Terminal Operating System (TOS) or to the central server, where they can be matched against the database and stored for future use.

A sample operation of the SeeTrain application is seen in the following animation.

In the application's main display, as seen above, the following zones are viewable-

·      the recognized container images are seen on the left (sample night images)

·      a history of trains is seen at the top center list (3 trains are displayed  in the above example  list)

·      the history of recognized containers is seen at the bottom center list (index, code, time and image pointer)

·      real-time events are seen on the right

There are two main image display modes: (a) real time view of the recognized images and (b) a history mode where the user can click on a requested recognition event and see its image and information.

Note that in normal use this display is not required, since the application runs in the background and requires no manual intervention. The system is installed in a rail side enclosure (no display required) and its operation can be observed thru the network.

SeeTrain: datasheet or technical document

SeeRail: contact us for more information.

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Last Update: June-15-2005