ADVANCED RAILWAY TRACK FAULT DETECTION AND REPORTING OVER IOT

Abstract

In India, the majority of commercial transportation relies heavily on the
railway network. Any disruption in this network can lead to significant
economic loss and, more tragically, loss of life due to accidents. This
paper presents a cost-effective and innovative solution for railway crack
detection that is both simple and robust. With the increasing number of
accidents at railroad crossings and on tracks, there is an urgent need for
an efficient system to prevent such incidents. Despite various transport
options available today, rail travel remains a preferred choice due to its
cost efficiency and speed. However, accidents caused by track faults and
obstacles on the tracks are a growing concern.
This paper proposes an advanced method to prevent train accidents by
using a microcontroller to automate the detection of track faults with an
Infrared (IR) sensor. Upon detecting a fault, the microcontroller alerts the
train driver with a red LED, triggers a buzzer, and automatically stops the
train. Additionally, the system sends information to a control room via
IoT. The key components of this project include a microcontroller
(Arduino), IR sensor, IoT module, buzzer, and DC motor. The IR sensor
is crucial as it is a directional data transfer device, enabling precise
detection of faults and allowing timely action to be taken. This system is particularly useful for ensuring trains run on time during adverse
conditions, such as foggy weather or nighttime when visibility is poor.
The proposed solution is highly beneficial for improving the safety of the
Indian railway system.