We all know how important Axle Counters are to ensure the smooth running of trains. Electromagnetic axle counters have served railways well for a long time. But are they future proof? Will they work correctly when high-speed trains equipped with Eddy Current Braking (EDC) pass over them? Doubtful.
How about an Axle Counter that is futuristic, ready for trains with EDC, and provides more information than just the direction and count of axles? L2M Axle Counter Plus is just that!
Our versatile solution employs highly reliable Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) based Optical Sensors, which are immune to all kinds of electromagnetic influences. The data communication is optical, the distance between the sensing nodes and the evaluator does not matter! No electrical power is required by sensing nodes and they continue to count axles even when the tracks are underwater.
L2M Axle Counter Plus – Schematic Diagram
Our next-generation Axle Counter Plus incorporates revolutionary Fibre Bragg Grating (FBG) Sensors that offer both reliability and accuracy. FBGs are optical sensors which are highly stable and work well in harsh environment.
FBG are optical filters that reflect one wavelength of light while transmitting the others. FBG converts physical perturbations into an optical wavelength shift. The wavelength shift is monitored by an “Interrogator” and provides an accurate measurement of the perturbation causing the shift.
FBG is fabricated by exposing photosensitive fiber core to pulsed UV laser through an optical phase mask. We have entered into technical collaboration with state-funded research institutions and National Laboratories in India to develop and manufacture our own sensors.
Fiber Bragg Grating Technology
Our state-of-the-art axle counting technology is not just limited to counting the number of axles and indicating train direction. It’s much more than that, which is why we call it, “Axle Counter Plus”. Our next-generation system, in addition to the above two standard functionalities, can provide information on the following: