Pole Detection

MERMEC Group Pole Detection System (PDS) automatically and continuously identifies the catenary wire support structure along the tracks providing complementary measurement data to those systems require a precise location of the poles.

The system consists of two acquisition units mounted side by side on the inspection car‘s rooftop. Each unit comprises two distance measurement systems with the beams directing vertically upwards. The light of a high-frequency modulated laser beam is reflected by objects and collected by a lens onto a detector. The phase of the detected signal differs from the emitted signal due to the light‘s time of flight. From this phase shift one can deduce the distance to the object.

PDS records a pole if both laser beams of an acquisition unit are reflected simultaneously. This two-fold reflection is the result of the poles‘ anchor arms, side holders or cantilevers. In addition, the two sensors determine the distance to distinguish such objects from others further above. The values are digitized and recorded.

High Speed

Main & Regional

Mass Transit & Light

Heavy-Haul