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T engineers send in the drones
By adamg on Tue, 03/29/2022 - 4:30pm
The MBTA reports that before it send actual inspectors into the Orange Line and Green Line tunnels under the partially collapsed Government Center Garage, it sent in drones today:
As we work to safely restore service following the Gov Center Garage accident, we teamed with @MassDOT Aeronautics to scan Orange & Green Line tunnels with a drone. This allowed us to safely assess tunnel conditions before sending engineers in for in-depth structural inspections. pic.twitter.com/LHGUfiou9r
— MBTA (@MBTA) March 29, 2022
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Comments
I would
Send in the Clowns
But I guess that just shows my age
There must be drones.
There must be drones. I'm an old fart too!
Now if we can just fit the drones with the proper tools... What a budget cutting tool they would be.
Evil Clown Drones
roaming underground tunnels. That’s the good stuff.
I see a cult movie
...about the drone that didn't return to the stable with the others.
"Locate Your Nearest Subway"
That's the ad I see when I look at this page on UHub. I guess the bots are trying to read my mind.
Should I send a drone over to pick up some sandwiches? Whatever they find in those tunnels would probably not be very appetizing.
I've always liked ...
The Subway at the subway at Mass. Ave. on the Orange Line.
You'd think they'd have a "drone" on rails
aka a remote-controlled inspection cart, but I guess this works too!
Hopefully
Situations where the tunnels are potentially unsafe for even the engineering crew to enter are uncommon enough that the T doesn't need a dedicated vehicle.
Although it is an interesting question if any of the trains support being controlled remotely.
Perhaps borrow bomb-squad
Perhaps borrow bomb-squad robot - wouldn't be surprised if State Police have one for MassPort.
It would have cameras, microphones.... Remote-control... Some models might have "sniffer" capabilities - could see that being adapted to look for fissures/leaks or blockages by "smoking the hull", seeing if gasses are trapped or moving in surprising spaces, maybe wire in CO and CO2 detectors...
If you’re looking for damaged rails
a vehicle that rides the rails is not the best tool.
Sure it is. Best way to test
Sure it is. Best way to test derailing risk is with something that will derail
https://images.app.goo.gl/EJJP8VBg3XfyAT8n9
More seriously, they're looking for more than just damaged rail.
Also, in some rail systems (don't know if that includes T), some of the signals are conducted along continuous welded rail. Rail damage might be indicated by variations in signal strength.
Testing for continuity
can be done from the end points. If they actually transmit signals over the rails, they could look for damage by treating it as a transmission line, and looking at the reflections.
Sorry, extremely minor point. I have an electrical engineering degree, and I have to get some use out of it occasionally.
Time-domain reflectometry!
Good stuff.
Why is it snowing in the tunnel?
Dust
The drone's propellers are going to kick up a fair amount of dust and crud and the spotlight positioned just above the camera lens is going to make that dust more apparent than it would be if you were to stand in the tunnel.