The University of Akron and Exacter, Inc. are developing technologies for preventing system failures on metro and electric rail systems. The partnership between the University of Akron, Exacter, Inc., and the transportation Research Board is commercializing sensors that provide predictive analytics to enable maintenance of aging electrical and transportation infrastructures.
The partnership has designed sensors to detect and pinpoint deteriorated electrical equipment such as insulators and cables used to operate electric rail systems before they fail catastrophically. The sensors use Radio Frequency (RF) emissions from deteriorated insulation and equipment to analyze the condition of the systems and are installed on trains and other critical parts of the system like the railway distribution system. When an emission meets the criteria for maintenance action, an alert is sent to maintenance teams.
“We’ve developed predictive maintenance sensors based on proven, patented technologies that will help transportation authorities identify early signs of failure on the electric infrastructure before an incident occurs,” said John Lauletta, CEO of Exacter and Commercialization Leader of the University of Akron Technology Partnership.
“The sensors we’ve developed will lead maintenance personnel to the exact point on the rail system that is going to fail, allowing them to perform predictive maintenance and mitigate future electrical outages and system failures.”
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