Real-Time Video Processing for Measuring Zigzag Length of Pantograph–Catenary Systems Based on GPS Correlation

Recent years have seen outstanding developments in research and technology, highlighting the importance of railway transportation, especially the implementation of high-speed trains, which is becoming more and more challenging. This facilitates extensive research into the science and technology of the electrical interaction between the components of pantograph–catenary systems (PCSs). Problems regarding the PCS can result in infrastructure incidents, potentially stopping train operations. A common cause of failure in electrified railway PCS is a contact wire’s zigzag length that exceeds the prescribed technical limit, which can be caused by missing droppers or faults in the mounting mechanism. This work proposes a video camera-based monitoring technique for zigzag geometry measurement that additionally employs a Global Positioning System (GPS) sensor to detect the current geographical position of the point of zigzag length measurement. There are two proposed techniques for measuring the length of the zigzag based on image processing. In the first technique, using previously recorded data, the images are analyzed in the laboratory, and in the second, the images are analyzed in real time. Based on the results, we suggest a model and prediction of zigzag length employing hybrid deep neural networks.