A distributed data acquisition architecture for track geometry measurement system

This paper introduces a distributed data acquisition architecture for track geometry measurement system(TGMS) to address the evolving needs in inspection environments and enhance the flexibility and scalability of the inspection system. It features a synchronization mode based on spatio-temporal tagging, which is essential for aligning raw data. The paper also outlines the design scheme for the data collection system of railway inspection equipment, incorporating data synchronization technology to enable the simultaneous acquisition of multi-port, diverse sensor data as well as data association technology to enable precise data alignment based on spatio-temporal tagging. The design of the data collection system, including CAN bus, GIGE port, and RS422 serial port interface circuits, leverages embedded technology. Empirical tests conducted on a comprehensive inspection train (CIT) show a high consistency between the results of the newly developed system and existing systems under similar conditions. The new data acquisition architecture enhances the system’s flexibility and scalability through spatio-temporal tagging for data alignment.