US20230391383A1

US20230391383A1 - Railroad Crossing Warning System

Info

Publication number: US20230391383A1
Application number: US18/323,509
Authority: US
Inventors: Gregory A. FEITH
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2022-05-25
Filing date: 2023-05-25
Publication date: 2023-12-07
Also published as: WO2023230239A1

Abstract

A railroad crossing warning system and method that include an obstruction detection system establishing a surveillance zone at a railroad crossing configured to detect the presence of an obstruction on a railroad track. A communication system is configured to transmit a warning to a railroad operator when an obstruction is detected within the surveillance zone.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/345,666, filed 25 May 2022, entitled “Rail Clear Pass (RCP) Novel System for Providing a Fail-Safe Warning for the Reduction or Elimination of Railroad Crossing Accidents Involving Vehicles, Obstructions, And/or Pedestrians,” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to railroad safety systems, and more particularly pertains to systems for warning of obstructions in intersecting railroad crossings and vehicle roadways.

BACKGROUND

According to statistical and historic information, there are approximately 140,000 public railroad crossings in the United States and about 50,000 private crossings. Based on information collected over the past 10 years, there have been over 30,000 railroad crossing accidents resulting in over 3,500 fatalities.
All railroad crossings that intersect surface roads pose a hazard to train, vehicular and pedestrian traffic for a variety of reasons. Some crossings include a single set of tracks, while more urban crossings often may have multiple sets of tracks. Train/vehicular collision accidents occur regardless of whether there are visual/aural warning signals, systems with crossing-gates or unguarded (signage only) rail/surface road crossings. Although uncontrolled (unguarded) railroad crossings increase the potential for a vehicle and training collision significantly, about half of all railroad crossing collisions occur at locations with warning devices. Statistics indicate the primary reason for train/vehicle collisions are attributed to drivers trying “to beat the train,” but a substantial number of collisions occur because of a vehicle (automobile, truck, tractor trailer rig, etc.) that is disabled (for any number of reasons) on the crossing. A freight train traveling at 60 miles per hour may need well over one mile to stop, which means that engineer must have sufficient and timely warning to begin the process of stopping the training safely.
Since trains cannot stop quickly or change directions, even when there are “siding tracks,” they have “primacy” which means, simply, they ALWAYS have the right of way. Further, railroad crossing environments may be configured having different shapes and sizes, and may or may not include active or passive warnings.
Because rail/surface road crossings are an integral part of daily travel routes, the potential for a serious incident or accident involving a train/vehicle collision increases as traffic density increases. Current railroad crossing warning systems typically are not designed to provide an alert to either the railroad Operation Control Centers or train engineers of disabled vehicles, obstructions or pedestrians that have become non-movement hazards on a railroad crossing. Further, there are typically no surveillance systems, warning systems, or alerting systems that provide real-time monitoring of railroad crossings for non-movement vehicles, obstructions or pedestrian that pose a hazard at crossings and jeopardize railroad safety.

SUMMARY

According to an implementation, a railroad crossing warning system includes an obstruction detection system establishing a surveillance zone at a railroad crossing configured to detect the presence of an obstruction on a railroad track. The railroad crossing warning system also includes a communication system configured to transmit a warning to a railroad operator when an obstruction is detected within the surveillance zone.
One or more of the following features may be included. The obstruction detection system may be configured to detect the presence of an obstruction within the surveillance zone exceeding a threshold period of time. The obstruction detection system may also include at least one visible or non-visible light emitting source configured to transmit an optical signal. The obstruction detection system may also include at least one optical receiving sensor configured to receive the optical signal. The railway crossing warning system may also include a processor coupled with the at least one optical receiving sensor configured to determine that the optical receiving sensor has not received the optical signal from the light emitting source for a threshold period of time. The at least one light emitting source may include one or more of an LED and a laser emitter or a combination of light emitters. The at least one light emitter may also incorporate a non-light emitting signal such as radar. The at least one optical receiving sensor may include one or more of a photodiode, a phototransistor, and a photovoltaic cell. The obstruction detection system may include one or more LIDAR systems.
The railroad crossing warning system may further include an image capture system configured to capture an image of a detected obstruction. The image capture system may include one or more of a still-image capture system and a video capture system. The communication system may be further configured to transmit the image of the detected obstruction. The image capture system may be configured to store the image of the detected obstruction.
The railroad crossing warning system may further include a control system configured to monitor operational status of the warning system. The control system may be configured to remotely reset the warning system. The control system may be configured to inhibit transmitting the warning when a train is operating proximate the surveillance zone. The railroad crossing warning system may further include a power backup system configured to power the warning system in the event of an outage of a primary electrical supply.
According to another implementation, a railroad crossing warning system includes a plurality of light emitting sources configured to emit respective light beams across a respective plurality of portions of a railroad crossing, and one or more optical receivers configured receive the respective light beams. The railroad crossing warning system also includes a control system configured to determine an obstruction in the railroad crossing based upon, at least in part, a change in received light beams. The railroad crossing warning system also includes a communication system configured to transmit an alert regarding the determined obstruction.
One or more of the following features may be included. The plurality of light emitting sources may include a plurality of light emitting sources emitting respective light beams at different heights across the railroad crossing. The communication system may be configured to transmit the alert via one or more of a landline transmission, a cellular transmission, a satellite transmission, and a radio transmission.
The railroad crossing warning system may further include an image capture system configured to capture one or more of a digital picture and a video clip of at least a portion of the railroad crossing in response to the determined obstruction. The alert may include at least a portion of one or more of the digital picture and the video clip. The railroad crossing warning system may further include a battery backup providing electrical power in the event of an outage of a primary electrical source.
According to yet another implementation, a method for improving railroad crossing safety includes establishing a surveillance zone including at least a portion of a railroad crossing. Establishing the surveillance zone includes transmitting one or more light beams into at least a portion of the surveillance zone, and receiving the one or more light beams. The method also includes determining the presence of an obstruction within the surveillance zone based upon, at least in part, the received one or more light beams. The method further includes communicating the presence of the obstruction within the surveillance zone to one or more of a train heading toward the railroad crossing and a rail operations center responsible for the railroad crossing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically depicts an illustrative example of a railroad crossing warning system, according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 2 diagrammatically depicts a plan view of a railroad crossing including a railroad crossing warning system, according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 3 diagrammatically depicts an elevational view of a railroad crossing including a railroad crossing warning system, according to an example embodiment; and

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method for improving railroad crossing safety, according to an example embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

In general, the present disclosure relates to railroad safety systems. More particularly, embodiments consistent with the present disclosure may provide for the detection of obstructions on railroad tracks in the vicinity of railroad crossings. Such obstructions may include, but are not limited to, vehicles (e.g., cars, trucks, trailers, etc.) on the railroad tracks, pedestrians on the railroad tracks, or other obstructions (e.g., anything that may fall from a vehicle or otherwise come to be on the railroad tracks) that may pose a potential hazard to a train, vehicle, or people in the vicinity of the railroad crossing if the obstruction is stricken by a train. As used herein, obstructions on railroad tracks may generally refer to any obstructions that may be physically on the railroad tracks, or that may be in proximity to the railroad tracks such that the obstruction may be contacted by a passing train. For example, and without intending to being limited to any specific dimensions, various loading gauges provide maximum heights and widths for train cars that may be in the approximate range of between about 10 feet 0 inches to 10 feet 8 inches in width and 15 feet 1 inch to about 20 feet 3 inches in height. As such, a region monitored consistent with the present disclosure may be selected appropriate to the rail traffic at a given railroad crossing, and may typically consider a height and width that may accommodate safe passage of a train, and may be based upon, at least in part the permitted and/or typical dimensions of rail traffic at a particular railroad crossing. Additionally, while the present disclosure may generally be directed at detecting obstructions at railroad crossings, it is acknowledged that an obstruction originating at an intersection of a railroad and a roadway may travel up or down the tracks from the actual intersection between the railroad and the roadway/pedestrian path. For example, a trailer breaking free from a towing vehicle or an article/load falling from a vehicle may come to rest on the tracks/near the tracks some distance up or down the tracks from the actual intersection between the railroad and the surface road. The distance considered by be dictated by practicalities, i.e., it may not be possible to monitor the great distances up or down the railroad tracks at every railroad crossing. For example, a practical distance could include, but is not limited to, 5 feet, 10 feet, 15 feet, 20 feet, or even more in some situations (e.g., up to 100 feet or more in either direction, including all incremental distances therein). Consistent with the foregoing, and in some implementations, an “obstruction on the tracks” or similar language may encompass an obstruction within a region having a width of a typical train for a given portion of a railway, the airspace above the tracks corresponding to a typical train height for the given portion of a railway, and a distance up and down the tracks from the actual intersection of the roadway.
As will be discussed in greater detail below, consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a railroad crossing warning system may generally provide a surveillance zone around a railroad crossing, which may be a region (e.g., width around the railroad tracks, airspace height above the railroad tracks, and distance up and down the tracks from the crossing) that may be monitored for the presence of an obstruction. In the even that an obstruction is detected within the surveillance zone, an alert may be issued to, e.g., one or more of personnel operating trains (i.e., locomotive engineers or other personnel) on the effected tracks in the vicinity of the railroad crossing, a railroad operations center associated with (e.g., responsible for the railroad crossing and/or operating trains that may pass through the railroad crossing), federal, local, or state authorities, or other designated organizations or personnel. It will be appreciated that various additional and/or alternative personnel and/or organizations may be alerted.
Consistent with some particular embodiments of the present disclosure, a railroad crossing warning system may generally include a matrix, array, or set of (e.g., consisting of one or more) light emitting sources or a combination of light/radar devices and one or more optical, or light receiving sensors that may receive at least a portion of light from the one or more light emitting sources or devices. For example, the light emitting sources may emit, broadcast, or transmit an optical signal within and/or at the perimeter of the surveillance zone. The one or more optical receiving sensors may receive the optical signal from the light emitting source(s) for determining an obstruction in the surveillance zone. Further, in some implementations an obstruction may be determined based on, at least in part, an optical signal from a light emitting source being blocked from being received by the optical receiving sensor (e.g., a broken beam situation). According to some example implementations an obstruction may be determine based on, at least in part, an optical signal from a light emitting source being reflected by an obstruction, with the reflected signal being received by the optical receiving sensor. It will be appreciated that various additional and/or alternative implementations and/or configurations may be utilized consistent with the present disclosure.
With reference to FIG. 1 , an illustrative example embodiment of a railroad crossing warning system 10 is schematically shown. As generally indicated, consistent with the illustrated example embodiment, the railroad crossing warning system 10 may generally include an obstruction detection system 12, which may establish a surveillance zone at a railroad crossing, and may be configured to detect the presence of an obstruction on a railroad track. As noted above, consistent with some implementations, the surveillance zone and “an obstruction on a railroad track” may generally encompass a width, height and expanse along the track within which the presence of an obstruction may be hazardous, dangerous, and/or undesirable. Further, as generally shown, consistent with the example embodiment the railroad crossing warning system 10 may also include a communication system 14 that may be configured to transmit a warning to a railroad operator when an obstruction is detected within the surveillance zone. As generally discussed above, a railroad operator may include, but is not limited to, e.g., engineer, organization operating trains through the railroad crossing (e.g., a railroad operations center), federal, state, or local agency or administration, and/or other designated personnel or organization. Consistent with some implementations, the railroad crossing warning system 10 (and the surveillance zone established by the obstruction detection system 12) may be implemented with a railroad crossing, such as an intersection of a railroad and a surface road for vehicles, a pedestrian crossing, and/or other location at which the ability to detect the occurrence of an obstruction on a railroad may be desired. Further, in some implementations, the surveillance zone may encompass more than one railroad track/roadway intersections. For example, in some situations a roadway (which, herein, may contemplate a vehicle roadway, a pedestrian way, and/or other crossing of non-railroad traffic or activity with a railway) may cross multiple sets of railroad tracks in close proximity to one another, e.g., as may occur at/near a railroad station or other similar arrangement. In some such situations, a railroad crossing warning system may establish a surveillance zone that covers an intersection of a single roadway with more than one set of railroad tracks, multiple roadways with a single set of railroad tracks, or multiple roadways with multiple sets of railroad tracks within a relatively confined region (e.g., which may be amenable to being monitored by a single railroad crossing warning system). Further, in some implementations, more than one railroad crossing warning system may be utilized to provide overlapping, contiguous, and/or adjacent surveillance zones for such multiple crossings.
Continuing with the foregoing, and as generally discussed above, in an illustrative example embodiment consistent with the present disclosure, railroad crossing warning system 10 may include an obstruction detection system 12, which may establish a surveillance zone at a railroad crossing that may be configured to detect the presence of an obstruction on a railroad track. In some embodiments consistent with the present disclosure, the obstruction detection system 12 may also include at least one light emitting source 16. The at least one light emitting source 16 may be configured to transmit an optical signal. The optical signal may include a visible optical signal (e.g., emitted light within the visible spectrum) and/or may include a non-visible optical signal (e.g., emitted light that is outside of the visible spectrum, including, but not limited to, light within the IR spectrum and/or within the UV spectrum). In various embodiments consistent with the present disclosure, if more than one light emitting source is utilized, the light emitting sources may all transmit optical signals having the same and/or similar wavelength, and/or may transmit optical signals at different wavelengths.
The one or more light emitting sources 16 may include any suitable light emitter including, but not limited to, an LED, a laser emitter, an incandescent bulb, etc. Further, the one or more light emitting sources 16 may be configured to generally broadcast the optical signal (e.g., including in a general direction) and/or may be configured to project a directional beam. As used herein a directional beam may generally refer to an optical transmission that is substantially collimated (e.g., as may be achieved by a laser emitter) and/or an optical transmission in which at least a portion of the emitted optical signal is directed in a generally common direction (e.g., as may be achieved by a uni-directional emitter, and/or may be achieved by one or more of a reflector and/or one or more lenses).
Further, consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure, the obstruction detection system 12 may also include at least one optical receiving sensor 18. The at least one optical receiving sensor 18 may be configured to receive the optical signal (e.g., the optical signal transmitted by the one or more light emitting sources 16). Consistent with various implementations consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one optical receiving sensor 18 may include one or more of a photodiode, a phototransistor, and a photovoltaic cell, a digital image sensor (e.g., CCD, CMOS sensor, etc.), and/or may include any other suitable optical receiving device capable of receiving and/or detecting the optical signal.
Consistent with illustrative example embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least one optical receiving sensor 18 may be positioned for receiving an optical signal from the at least one light emitting source 16. For example, in some embodiments, an optical receiving sensor 18 may be oriented in a generally opposed from at least one light emitting source 16 for receiving and/or detecting the optical signal from the at least one light emitting source. Further, in some implementations, the optical signal may be redirected via one or more reflectors, mirrors, prisms, or the like before being received by an optical receiving sensor. Further, in some implementations, an optical receiving device may be capable of receiving and/or detecting optical signals having different wavelengths. In some such implementations, more than one light emitting source may transmit optical signals having different wavelengths that may be received by a single optical receiving sensor. In some such implementations, the single optical receiving sensor may be capable of discriminating between optical signals received from the different light emitting sources. As such, the obstruction detection system may be capable of determining which optical signals are received by the optical receiving sensor (e.g., from which light emitting sources an optical signal is being received).
Continuing with the foregoing, and with additional reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 , an illustrative example embodiment consistent with the present disclosure is depicted. Consistent with the illustrated example embodiment, light emitting sources 16 and optical receiving sensors 18 may be mounted to stanchions or other suitable structures (e.g., posts, adjacent structure, buildings, etc.) on either side of railroad 50, generally, and roadway 52, generally. Consistent with the illustrated example embodiment, the light emitting sources 16 and the optical receiving sensors 18 may be mounted at various different heights along the stanchions, extending from at, or near, surface level up to a surveillance zone height, e.g., 15 feet above the surface, or other suitable height. Consistent with the illustrated example embodiment, the light emitting sources 16 may transmit optical signals, e.g., beams 54, which may be received by corresponding optical receiving sensors 18. As noted previously, in some embodiments, a single optical receiving sensor may be capable of receiving, and in some embodiments discriminating between, optical signals from more than one light emitting source. Further, consistent with the illustrated example embodiment, the beams 54 may be projected in diagonal patterns, both horizontally and vertically, to define the surveillance zone. Additionally and/or alternatively, beams may be projected in a linear pattern. Further, while the illustrated example embodiment depicts light emitting sources and optical receiving sensors near the railroad/roadway surface and adjacent the tops of the stanchions, it will be appreciated that additional light emitting sources and/or optical receiving sensors may be positioned at various other and/or various additional heights on the stanchions.
In the illustrated example embodiment consistent with the present disclosure, the various light emitting sources 16 may transmit a field, or matrix, of optical signals (e.g., beams 54) that may be received by one or more of the optical receiving sensors 18, thus defining the surveillance zone. As such, an object within the surveillance zone may interrupt one or more of the beams, which would then not be received by an optical receiving sensor. As such, the presence of an object within the surveillance zone may be detected. As noted above, one or more reflectors, mirrors, prisms, etc., may be utilized to redirect a beam, which may subsequently be received by an optical receiving sensor aligned with the redirected beam. In some such embodiments, a beam from a light emitting source may traverse the surveillance zone more than once. This may increase the number or density of optical signals in the surveillance zone without increasing the number of required light emitting sources and/or the number of optical receiving sensors.
Consistent with the foregoing example embodiment, the railroad crossing warning system may utilize a “broken beam” paradigm for detecting the presence of an object within the surveillance zone. According to an additional and/or alternative implementation an optical signal from a light emitting source may be reflected by an object within the surveillance zone, and the reflected optical signal may be received by an optical receiving sensor. For example, in the obstruction detection system may include one or more LIDAR systems. As is known, a LIDAR system may be used to detect the presence, locations, and/or distance to an object. According to various implementations, stationary and/or scanning LIDAR may be utilized to detect objects within a specific surveillance zone and/or portion of the surveillance zone, and/or may be capable of detecting objects within multiple surveillance zones and/or multiple locations within a surveillance zone. Consistent with an implementation utilizing one or more LIDAR systems, suitable LIDAR systems may be deployed in one or more of the locations of the depicted light emitting sources and/or optical receiving sensors shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 . It will be appreciated that various additional and/or alternative locations and/or mounting arrangements may be equally utilized. It will further be appreciated that in addition/as an alternative to optical detection systems, various other technologies may be utilized in a generally corresponding manner, such as radar detection systems, ultrasonic detection systems, and the like.
Consistent with some implementations, the obstruction detection system 12 may be subject to, and/or exposed to, outdoor environmental conditions. Accordingly, in various embodiments suitable environmental protections may be utilized. Examples of such environmental protections may include, but are not limited to, protective housings, sun shades, optical filters. Such protective features may, for example, mitigate environmental/weather damage, interference with optical signals (transmitted and/or received), and the like.
Consistent with some example embodiments, the obstruction detection system may be configured to detect the presence of an obstruction within the surveillance zone exceeding a threshold period of time. For example, it will be appreciated that as the railway crossing warning system may be utilized at an intersection, or crossing, of a surface roadway and a railroad track, various vehicles, pedestrians, etc., may frequently travel through the surveillance zone. As such, the railway crossing warning system may detect the presence of such through traffic. In many cases, the through traffic may not pose a hazard or concern (e.g., may run the risk of interfering with a train passing through the crossing). However, if the presence of an object persists, e.g., for longer than a typical crossing would take, it may be indicative of a potential concern, such as a disabled vehicle, an object lost, placed, or abandoned on the railroad, etc. Accordingly, in some embodiments consistent with the present disclosure, the obstruction detection system may be configured to detect the presence of an obstruction within the surveillance zone exceeding a threshold period of time. The threshold period of time may be based upon, for example, a typical transit time for vehicles and/or pedestrians crossing the railroad tracks, and/or other relevant time-related information. Further, in some embodiments, the railway crossing warning system may have an awareness of the location or proximity of trains to the railroad crossing (e.g., based on track sensor, transponder information from trains, GPS data concerning trains, etc.). In some such embodiments, the threshold period of time may be, at least in part, dependent upon how close any approaching trains are to the railroad crossing. For example, the threshold period of time for a detected object within the surveillance zone posing a possible concern may be shorter if a train is approaching the railroad crossing as compared to when no train is approaching the railroad crossing.
Continuing with the foregoing, consistent with some example embodiments of the present disclosure, the railway crossing warning system 10 may also include a processor 20 couple with the at least one optical receiving sensor. The processor 20 may, at least in part, be configured to determine that the optical receiving sensor has not received the optical signal from the light emitting source for a threshold period of time. For example, in a “broken beam” paradigm, when an object is present within the surveillance zone, an optical signal from a light emitting source may be blocked from reaching an optical receiving sensor. The processor (executing appropriate firmware and/or software), may identify the blocked optical signal (e.g., absence of a received optical signal by one or more of the optical receiving sensors) as an object within the surveillance zone. Further, upon detecting the blocked optical signal the process may initiate a timer that may, e.g., be reset upon the optical signal being restored (i.e., the optical signal being again received by the optical receiving sensor). If the threshold time period is reached before the optical signal is restored, an alert, or warning, may be generated, as discussed below in greater detail. The process may perform corresponding operations in an embodiment utilizing a LIDAR system, in which the detection of an object via a reflected optical signal may initiate a timer.
As generally discussed above, in an embodiment consistent with the present disclosure, the railroad crossing warning system 10 may also include communication system 14. Communication system 14 may be configured to transmit a warning to a railroad operator when an obstruction is detected within the surveillance zone. For example, upon detection of an object within the surveillance zone (e.g., for a time period exceeding the threshold time period) railroad crossing warning system 10 may transmit an alert or warning of the presence of the object within the surveillance zone. As generally discussed above, the alert, or warning, may be transmitted to one or more of a locomotive engineer (or other on-train personnel), a rail operations center, a federal, state, or local office/official, or other suitable personnel or location. Consistent with various example embodiments, communication system 14 may include a transmitter 56 for transmitting the alert, or warning. The transmitter may be configured to transmit a wireline alert (e.g., via one or more of a telephone connection, a wired internet connection, a dedicated wired connection, etc.) and/or a wireless alert (e.g., via one or more of a WiFi connection a cellular connection, a satellite connection, or another suitable wireless connection). Consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure, the communication system 14 may also be configured to transmit an “all clear” signal if the object is subsequently removed from the surveillance zone (e.g., based on a restored optical signal, a detected absences of the object within the surveillance zone, etc.).
According to various embodiments, the alert, or warning, may include various information and utilize various formats. For example, the alert may interface with a control system simply identifying the presence of an object within the surveillance zone of a specific railroad crossing. As such, the signal may be a simple alert associated with a specific railroad crossing. The alert may interface with a railroad control system for providing the information and identifying the specific railroad crossing. Additionally and/or alternatively, the alert may include additional information, such as a reference identifying the crossing (e.g., a unique identifier, a GPS coordinate, a rail line identifier, an identifier of the roadway associated with crossing, etc.), the time of object detection, the duration of object presence (e.g., an amount of time if the object is removed and/or an amount of time the object has been present in the surveillance zone), as well as any other relevant information. Further, the alert may include, but is not limited to, one or more of a signal that is useable by a rail tracking and/or control system, a text message (e.g., an SMS message, iMessage, Artificial Intelligence (AI), or the like), an email, a database entry, or the like.
According to an example embodiment consistent with the present disclosure, the railroad crossing warning system 10 may further include an image capture system 22. The image capture system 22 may be configured to capture an image of a detected obstruction. For example, the image capture system 22 may include one or more of a still-image capture system and a video capture system. In some implementations the image capture system 22 may include one or more digital cameras (e.g., digital camera 58) that may be positioned to capture an image of at least a portion of the surveillance zone. For example, the digital camera may be mounted to a stanchion, post, structure adjacent to the railroad crossing, or the like. In some implementations, a single digital camera may be positioned to capture an image of the entire surveillance zone and/or a portion thereof. In some embodiments, a single digital camera may be moveably positioned (e.g., via a gimble, controllable panning fixture, or other suitable actuator or motion device) to selectively capture an image of different portions of the surveillance zone, and/or may include more than one digital camera positioned to capture an image of different portions of the surveillance zone (e.g., overlapping portion, contiguous portions, etc.). In some implementations, the image capture system may be configured to capture an image of a portion of the surveillance zone associated with a detected object (e.g., based on, at least in part, an optical receiving sensor not detecting an optical signal and/or a portion of the surveillance zone in which an object is detected by a LIDAR system, etc.). Consistent with various embodiments, the image capture system may be configured to capture one or more of a single image and a video (e.g., a continuous video and/or a video clip of a predefined and/or variable duration).
According to some embodiments consistent with the present disclosure, the communication system 14 may be further configured to transmit an image of the detected obstruction. For example, as noted above, in response to detecting an object within the surveillance zone (e.g., with the object being present for greater than the threshold period of time), the image capture system 22 may be configured to capture an image and/or video (which may also be considered to be covered by the term “image” herein) of at least a portion of the surveillance zone including the detected object (and/or of the entire surveillance zone, and/or of multiple portions of the surveillance zone, with at least one portion of the surveillance zone including the detected object). Furthermore, the communication system 14 may be configured to transmit the image/video as the alert and/or as part of the alert (e.g., the image/video may form the entire alert, a portion of the alert, an attachment to the alert, etc.). Further, in some implementations, the image may be transmitted to a storage facility (e.g., a cloud service, a datastore, etc.), which may store the image/video and/or allow the image/video to be accessed by personnel investigating the presence of the object. Additionally and/or alternatively, the image capture system may include and/or interface with a local storage device. Examples of a local storage device may include, but are not limited to, a hard disk drive, a memory card, a solid state drive, a flash memory, or the like. Accordingly, it may be possible to access the captured image/video locally (e.g., at the railroad crossing warning system 10) and/or remotely (e.g., via remote access via a wired or wireless data connection, as generally discussed with regard to the transmission of the alert, or warning).
According to some example embodiments consistent with the present disclosure, the railroad crossing warning system 10 may further include a control system 24. According to some implementations, the control system 24 may be configured to monitor an operational status of the warning system. For example, the railroad crossing warning system 10 may be configured (e.g., via appropriate hardware, firmware, and/or software) to conduct self-diagnostics and/or to identify error states associated with one or more aspects of railroad crossing warning system (e.g., failure of one or more components of obstruction detection system 12, processor 20, image capture system 22, communication system 14, and/or another component or feature of the railroad crossing warning system 10). Consistent with some implementations, the control system 24 may be configured to automatically reset or restart the railroad crossing warning system 10 (and/or one or more component thereof) in response to detecting an error or failure. Additionally, and/or alternatively, the control system 24 may be configured to remotely rest the railroad crossing warning system 10 (and/or one or more components thereof). For example, an administrator or user may push a reset command (e.g., via communication system 14, as generally discussed above with regard to transmitting alerts or warnings). In response to receiving the reset command, the control system 24 may reset and/or restart at least a portion of the railroad crossing warning system 10. Additionally and/or alternatively, the control system 24 may allow firmware and/or software updates to be remotely preformed on one or more components of the railroad crossing warning system 10.
According to some example embodiments consistent with the present disclosure, the control system 24 may be configured to inhibit transmitting the warning when a train is proximate the surveillance zone. For example, as will be appreciated, the time that a train may take to pass through the railroad crossing (e.g., including the surveillance zone) may exceed the threshold time period (e.g., which may, in some embodiments, be based on a time that normal vehicular or pedestrian traffic may take to cross the railroad tracks). As such, a train passing through the intersection (and thereby through the surveillance zone) may trigger an alert or warning. In order to avoid a train from triggering an alert or warning, the control system may inhibit transmitting the warning when a train is proximate the surveillance zone. Consistent with various embodiments, a train may be determined to be proximate the surveillance zone in any suitable way, including, but not limited to, a track mounted switch or sensor (e.g., sensor 60) that may detect the presence of a train, a transponder signal transmitted by the train (e.g., which may be received by communication system 14 and/or another component of railroad crossing warning system), a GPS position of the train, etc. In some example embodiments, while the train is passing through the crossing any crossing associated warnings (e.g., lights, bells, crossing gates, etc.) may have priority. In some embodiments, if an object is detected within the surveillance zone prior to the train arriving at the crossing an alert may be transmitted, and/or the crossing associated warning may have priority, and no alert may be transmitted.
In some example embodiments consistent with the present disclosure, the railroad crossing warning system 10 may further include a power backup system 26. The power backup system 26 may be configured to power the railroad crossing warning system 10 in the event of an outage of a primary electrical supply. For example, the railroad crossing warning system 10 may normally be powered by a power source local to the railroad crossing (e.g., local power mains, dedicate railroad power source, solar or wind power source, or the like). However, as is known, such power sources may be subject to occasional outage. In the interest of being able to maintain operation of the railroad crossing warning system 10 during a power outage, railroad crossing warning system 10 may include power backup system 26, which may include, but is not limited to, a battery power source, and alternative power source (e.g., if the railroad crossing warning system 10 is normally powered by local power mains, the alternative power source may include a dedicated railroad power source, or vice versa), a solar or wind power source, or the like. Further, in some embodiments in which the power backup system 26 may include a batter, the power backup system 26 may include a charging system for maintaining the battery. The charging system may operate off of power from local power mains, dedicated railroad power source, solar and/or wind power, or other suitable power source for charging a battery.
Consistent with another illustrative example embodiment, a railroad crossing warning system may include a plurality of light emitting sources configured to emit respective light beams across a respective plurality of portions of a railroad crossing, and one or more optical receivers configured receive the respective light beams. The railroad crossing warning system may also include a control system configured to determine an obstruction in the railroad crossing based upon, at least in part, a change in received light beams. The railroad crossing warning system may also include a communication system configured to transmit an alert regarding the determined obstruction.
For example, and as generally discussed and shown in the drawings, such an example embodiment of a railroad crossing warning system includes a plurality of light emitting sources configured to emit respective light beams across a respective plurality of portions of a railroad crossing (e.g., which may include any roadway, pedestrian path, or other intersection or crossing of a railway by other traffic). Consistent with the present disclosure, emitting light beams across portions of the railroad crossing may include, but is not limited to, emitting light beams across a roadway, pedestrian path, etc. intersecting the railroad, emitting light beams across the railroad (e.g., the railroad tracks and/or space that would be occupied by a passing train), and/or combinations of both (including, but not limited to, emitting light beams at an angle that may cross at least a portion of the roadway, pedestrian path, etc., and at least a portion of the railroad). Further, consistent with the present disclosure, any suitable light emitting source, or system including a light emitting source, may be utilized. Examples of such light emitting sources may include, but is not limited to, an LED, a laser emitter, a LIDAR system (e.g., which may include multiple discrete beams, and/or multiple projected beams as a result of a pulsing or scanning laser), etc. It will be appreciated that such light emitting sources may be configured to emit light beams within the visible spectrum, and/or to emit light beams outside of the visible spectrum.
According to various implementations consistent with such an example embodiment, the plurality of light emitting sources may include a plurality of light emitting sources emitting respective light beams at different heights across the railroad crossing. That is, for example, at least a first light beam may be emitted at a first height above the railroad tracks and at least a second light beam may be emitted at a second height above the railroad tracks. In some implementations, multiple light beams may be emitted at multiple heights above the railroad tracks to provide the opportunity to detect objects that may lie anywhere within the space that a train may occupy as it passes through the railroad crossing. For example, the ability to detect objects at different heights may not only allow the detection of objects lying on the railroad tracks, but also objects projecting into the railroad crossing above the tracks. A couple of illustrative examples of such a situation could include, but of course are not limited to, a vehicle, such as a tractor trailer, straddling a railroad crossing, with trailer body extending across the railroad tracks at a height above the railroad tracks, an object leaning, or projecting, into the railroad crossing from outside the railroad area (the height and width around the railroad tracks that would be occupied by a passing train), etc.
It will be appreciated that arranging a plurality of light beams at different heights above the railroad crossing may be achieved in a variety of manners. For example, multiple light beams may be vertically spaced above the railroad tracks, and may have a generally horizontal beam path. Similarly, multiple beams may be arranged at one or more heights above the railroad tracks, and may be configured to have an angled, or non-horizontal, beam path. Consistent with some such embodiments, a plurality of light emitting sources could be located at a first height, and arranged to project light beams at different vertical angles to cover a desired vertical expanse with the light beams. Similar arrangements may be utilized for covering horizontal expanses (e.g., multiple beams arranged having differing horizontal angles). It will also be appreciated that multiple beams may be achieved by splitting and/or redirecting (e.g., via reflectors, mirrors, prisms, etc.) one or more light beams.
As discussed above, consistent with the illustrative example embodiment, one or more optical receivers configured receive the respective light beams. Consistent with various implementations, any suitable optical receiver may be used that is capable of detecting and/or generating a signal and/or an output in response to receiving a light beam. Examples of such optical receives may include, but are not limited to, photodiodes, phototransistors, photovoltaic devices, digital image sensors (e.g., CCD, CMOS sensor, etc.), etc. In some implementations, a single optical receiver may be capable of receiving and/or detecting light beams from more than one light emitting source. In some implementations, such a receiver may be capable of discriminating between light beams from different sources (e.g., based upon an angle or direction the beam is received from, based upon a where on the receiver the light beam is incident, based upon a wavelength of the light beam, etc.). In some implementations, an optical receiver may be capable of receiving light beams from more than one light emitting source, but may not discriminate between sources. For example, an optical receiver may be capable of detecting a total incident intensity of light beams. As such, if one of the light beams is blocked (e.g., by an obstruction in the railroad crossing) a decreased incident intensity of light beams may be detected, which may, for example, allow a determination of an obstruction in the railroad crossing blocking at least one of the light beams. Various additional and/or alternative implementations may be equally utilized.
As discussed above, consistent with the illustrative example embodiment, the railroad crossing warning system may also include a control system configured to determine an obstruction in the railroad crossing based upon, at least in part, a change in received light beams. Consistent with various embodiments, the change in received light beams may include, but is not limited to one or more of the light beams being obstructed, which may, for example, cause one or more of the light beams not to be received by one or more optical receivers, which may be detected by the control system. Further, in some embodiments, for example, an embodiment utilizing one or more LIDAR systems, the change in the received light beams may include a change in a beam reflected by the obstruction and/or a change in a beam reflected by features of the railroad crossing as a result of the presence of the obstruction within the railroad crossing.
Additionally, as discussed above, consistent with the illustrative example embodiment, the railroad crossing warning system may also include a communication system configured to transmit an alert regarding the determined obstruction. According to various implementations, the communication system may be configured to transmit the alert via one or more of a landline transmission, a cellular transmission, a satellite transmission, and a radio transmission. Accordingly, the communication system may include appropriate modems, network interfaces, radio transmitters, or the like for interfacing with and/or communicating via the desired communication channel, as is generally known.
In some example implementations, the railroad crossing warning system may further include an image capture system configured to capture one or more of a digital picture and a video clip of at least a portion of the railroad crossing in response to the determined obstruction. The alert may include at least a portion of one or more of the digital picture and the video clip. In some implementations, the railroad crossing warning system may include local storage media (e.g., hard disk drive, solid state disk drive, flash memory, memory card, etc.) for storing a local copy of any images or videos that may be taken. Additionally and/or alternatively, any images or videos that may be taken may be transmitted to, and stored by, a remote storage facility and/or a cloud storage facility. Further, in some implementations, any images or videos taken may be transmitted as the alert and/or as part of the alert, and may be stored by the recipient(s) of the alert.
Consistent with an illustrative example embodiment, the railroad crossing warning system may further include a battery backup providing electrical power in the event of an outage of a primary electrical source. The battery backup may be sized to provide an appropriate duration of operation of the railroad crossing warning system without power from the primary electrical source. In some embodiments, the duration of operation may be based upon, at least in part, an average power outage duration in the geographic region of the railroad crossing and/or a frequency with which trains pass through the railroad crossing. In some implementations, the railroad crossing warning system may include a battery charger/maintainer to ensure that the backup battery is maintained at full charge to provide maximum performance in the event of an outage of the primary electrical source.
Referring also to FIG. 4 , an illustrative example embodiment of a method for improving railroad crossing safety 100 is shown. Consistent with the example embodiment, the method for improving railroad crossing safety 100 may include establishing 102 a surveillance zone including at least a portion of a railroad crossing. The method further includes communicating 104 the presence of an obstruction within the surveillance zone to one or more of a train heading toward the railroad crossing and a rail operations center responsible for the railroad crossing, and/or to one or more additional/alternative organizations or personnel.
According to some embodiments consistent with the present disclosure, establishing 102 the surveillance zone may include transmitting 106 one or more light beams into at least a portion of the surveillance zone. As generally discussed above, transmitting 106 one or more light beams into at least a portion of the surveillance zone may utilize any suitable light sources, including, but not limited to, LEDs, laser emitters, LIDAR systems, and the like. Consistent with various embodiments, differing numbers, positions, and/or configurations of light sources may be utilized to transmit 106 one or more light beams into the surveillance zone to provide a desired degree of detection capability, density, or capacity, which may, in turn, influence the size of obstructions that can be reliably detected. In some embodiments consistent with the present disclosure, establishing 102 the surveillance zone may also include receiving 108 the one or more light beams. As generally discussed above, receiving 108 the one or more light beams may utilize any suitable optical receiver or sensor, including, but not limited to, photodiode, phototransistor, photovoltaic device, digital image sensor (e.g., CCD, CMOS sensor, etc.), LIDAR system, etc.
According to some embodiments consistent with the present disclosure, establishing 102 the surveillance zone may also include determining 110 the presence of an obstruction within the surveillance zone. In some embodiments determining 110 the presence of an obstruction within the surveillance zone may be based upon, at least in part, the received one or more light beams. For example, in some embodiments consistent with the present disclosure, an obstruction within the surveillance zone may at least partially block one or more light beams. As such, one or more optical receivers or sensors may no longer receive the light beam. Accordingly, the presence of an obstruction in the surveillance zone may be detected based upon, at least in part, the one or more optical receivers or sensors not receiving a light beam. Further, in some embodiments consistent with the present disclosure, including but not limited to embodiments utilizing LIDAR systems, the presence of an obstruction in the surveillance zone may be detected based upon, at least in part, a light beam reflected by the obstruction and received by an optical receiver or sensor.
As discussed above, according to some embodiments consistent with the present disclosure, the method may also include communicating 104 the presence of the obstruction within the surveillance zone to one or more of a train heading toward the railroad crossing and a rail operations center responsible for the railroad crossing, and/or other relevant or desired organizations or personnel.
In some implementations, one or more aspects of the present disclosure may be effectuated by a server-side application. In some implementations, one or more client applications may be configured to effectuate some or all of the functionality of the server-side application (and vice versa). Accordingly, in some implementations, the server may be a purely server-side application, a purely client-side application, or a hybrid server-side/client-side application that is cooperatively executed by one or more of the client applications and/or the server.
In some implementations, examples of any of the computing devices capable of effectuating one or more aspects of the present disclosure may include but are not limited to, a personal computer, a laptop computer, a smart/data-enabled, cellular phone, a notebook computer, a tablet, a server, a television, a smart television, a media (e.g., video, photo, etc.) capturing device, a dedicated network device, mobile computing device(s), a server computer, a series of server computers, a mainframe computer(s), or a computing cloud(s).
In some implementations, the present disclosure may be embodied as a method, system, or computer program product. Accordingly, the present disclosure may take the form of an entirely hardware implementation, an entirely software implementation (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an implementation combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore, the present disclosure may take the form of a computer program product on a computer-usable storage medium having computer-usable program code embodied in the medium.
In some implementations, any suitable computer usable or computer readable medium (or media) may be utilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. The computer-usable, or computer-readable, storage medium (including a storage device associated with a computing device or client electronic device) may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer-readable medium may include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a digital versatile disk (DVD), a static random access memory (SRAM), a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon, a media such as those supporting the internet or an intranet, or a magnetic storage device. Note that the computer-usable or computer-readable medium could even be a suitable medium upon which the program is stored, scanned, compiled, interpreted, or otherwise processed in a suitable manner, if necessary, and then stored in a computer memory. In the context of the present disclosure, a computer usable or computer-readable, storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain or store a program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.
In some implementations, a computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signal with computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may take any of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. The computer readable program code may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to the internet, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc. A computer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium that is not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.
In some implementations, computer program code for carrying out operations of the present disclosure may be assembler instructions, instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Java®, Smalltalk, C++ or the like. Java and all Java-based trademarks and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates. However, the computer program code for carrying out operations of the present disclosure may also be written in conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language, PASCAL, or similar programming languages, as well as in scripting languages such as Javascript, PERL, or Python. The program code may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the internet using an Internet Service Provider). In some implementations, electronic circuitry including, for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) or other hardware accelerators, microcontroller units (MCUs), or programmable logic arrays (PLAs) may execute the computer readable program instructions/code by utilizing state information of the computer readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present disclosure.
In some implementations, the flowchart and block diagrams in the figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of apparatus (systems), methods and computer program products according to various implementations of the present disclosure. It will be understood that each block in the flowchart and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart and/or block diagrams, may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable computer program instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s)/act(s). These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the computer program instructions, which may execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create the ability to implement one or more of the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks or combinations thereof. It should be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block(s) may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved.
In some implementations, these computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks or combinations thereof.
In some implementations, the computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed (not necessarily in a particular order) on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions/acts (not necessarily in a particular order) specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks or combinations thereof.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular implementations only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps (not necessarily in a particular order), operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps (not necessarily in a particular order), operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents (e.g., of all means or step plus function elements) that may be in the disclosure and/or claims are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the disclosure in the form disclosed. Many modifications, variations, substitutions, and any combinations thereof will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. The implementation(s) were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the disclosure and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosure for various implementation(s) with various modifications and/or any combinations of implementation(s) as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
Having thus described the disclosure of the present application in detail and by reference to implementation(s) thereof, it will be apparent that modifications, variations, and any combinations of implementation(s) (including any modifications, variations, substitutions, and combinations thereof) are possible without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A railroad crossing warning system comprising:

an obstruction detection system establishing a surveillance zone at a railroad crossing configured to detect the presence of an obstruction on a railroad track; and

a communication system configured to transmit a warning to a railroad operator when an obstruction is detected within the surveillance zone.

2. The railroad crossing warning system according to claim 1, wherein the obstruction detection system is configured to detect the presence of an obstruction within the surveillance zone exceeding a threshold period of time.

3. The railroad crossing warning system according to claim 1, wherein the obstruction detection system includes:

one or more of:

at least one light emitting source configured to transmit an optical signal; and

at least one non-light emitting source configured to transmit one or more of a radar signal and a combination of an optical signal and a radar signal

at least one optical receiving sensor configured to receive at least one of the optical signal, the radar signal, and the combination of an optical signal and a radar signal;

a processor couple with the at least one optical receiving sensor configured to determine that the optical receiving sensor has not received the optical signal from the light emitting source for a threshold period of time.

4. The railroad crossing warning system according to claim 3, wherein the at least one light emitting source includes one or more of an LED and a laser emitter.

5. The railroad crossing warning system according to claim 3, wherein the at least one optical receiving sensor includes one or more of a photodiode, a phototransistor, and a photovoltaic cell.

6. The railroad crossing warning system according to claim 1, wherein the obstruction detection system includes one or more LIDAR systems.

7. The railroad crossing warning system according to claim 1, further including an image capture system configured to capture an image of a detected obstruction.

8. The railroad crossing warning system according to claim 7, wherein the image capture system includes one or more of a still-image capture system and a video capture system.

9. The railroad crossing warning system according to claim 7, wherein the communication system is further configured to transmit the image of the detected obstruction.

10. The railroad crossing warning system according to claim 7, wherein the image capture system is configured to store the image of the detected obstruction.

11. The railroad crossing warning system according to claim 1, further including a control system configured to monitor operational status of the warning system.

12. The railroad crossing warning system according to claim 11, wherein the control system is configured to remotely reset the warning system.

13. The railroad crossing warning system according to claim 11, wherein the control system is configured to inhibit transmitting the warning when a train is proximate the surveillance zone.

14. The railroad crossing warning system according to claim 1, further comprising a power backup system configured to power the warning system in the event of an outage of a primary electrical supply.

15. A railroad crossing warning system comprising:

a plurality of light emitting sources configured to emit respective light beams across a respective plurality of portions of a railroad crossing;

one or more optical receivers configured receive the respective light beams;

a control system configured to determine an obstruction in the railroad crossing based upon, at least in part, a change in received light beams; and

a communication system configured to transmit an alert regarding the determined obstruction.

16. The railroad crossing warning system according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of light emitting sources include a plurality of light emitting sources emitting respective light beams at different heights across the railroad crossing.

17. The railroad crossing warning system according to claim 15, wherein the communication system is configured to transmit the alert via one or more of a landline transmission, a cellular transmission, a satellite transmission, and a radio transmission.

18. The railroad crossing warning system according to claim 15, further comprising an image capture system configured to capture one or more of a digital picture and a video clip of at least a portion of the railroad crossing in response to the determined obstruction, and wherein the alert includes at least a portion of one or more of the digital picture and the video clip.

19. The railroad crossing warning system according to claim 15, further comprising a battery backup providing electrical power in the event of an outage of a primary electrical source.

20. A method for improving railroad crossing safety comprising:

establishing a surveillance zone including at least a portion of a railroad crossing including:

transmitting one or more light beams into at least a portion of the surveillance zone;

receiving the one or more light beams; and

determining the presence of an obstruction within the surveillance zone based upon, at least in part, the received one or more light beams; and

communicating the presence of the obstruction within the surveillance zone to one or more of a train heading toward the railroad crossing and a rail operations center responsible for the railroad crossing.