Systems and methods for analyzing a rail

A deployable measurement system configured to be coupled to a vehicle configured to move along a railroad track, the system comprising:

• a housing;
• a reflecting assembly coupled to the housing such that the reflecting assembly is movable between a stored position and a deployed position;
• a deployment assembly coupled to the housing and being configured to cause the reflecting assembly to move from the stored position to the deployed position such that at least a portion of the reflecting assembly is positioned outside of the housing;
• an optical measurement system disposed within the housing and being configured to receive electromagnetic radiation that is reflected by the reflecting assembly in response to the reflecting assembly being in the deployed position;
• and
• one or more sensors configured to detect foreign objects. wherein responsive to the one or more sensors detecting one of the foreign objects and responsive to a determination that the detected one of the foreign objects is within a threshold distance from the vehicle, the railroad track, or any combination thereof, causing (i) the reflecting assembly to move to the stored position, (ii) the housing to move to a stored position. or (iii) both (i) and (ii).

A deployable measurement system for analyzing a rail of a railroad track, the deployable measurement system comprising:

• a housing configured to be coupled to a frame of a vehicle that is configured to move along the railroad track, the housing being movable between a stored position and a deployed position, the housing including a base, two opposing side walls, two opposing end walls, and a lid, the base of the housing having an opening that forms a lip about at least a portion of the periphery of the opening;
• a reflecting assembly coupled to the housing such that the reflecting assembly is movable between a stored position and a deployed position, the reflecting assembly including:
• a base plate;
• a reflective element coupled to the base plate, the reflective element being positioned at a non-zero angle relative to the base of the housing when the reflecting assembly is in the deployed position;
• an aperture plate having one or more apertures, the aperture plate having a flange about at least a portion of the periphery of the aperture plate that is configured to engage the lip of the opening in the base of the housing in response to the reflecting assembly being in the deployed position;
• and
• a first side bracket coupled to (i) a first end of the aperture plate via one or more first fasteners and (ii) a first end of the base plate via one or more second fasteners;
• a second side bracket coupled to (i) a second opposing end of the aperture plate via the one or more of the first fasteners and (ii) a second opposing end of the base plate via one or more of the second fasteners, the one or more first fasteners being configured to permit the first and second side brackets to detach from the aperture plate in response to a first force greater than a first detachment threshold force being imparted on the base plate, the first side bracket, the second side bracket, or any combination thereof;
• a retraction assembly coupled between the housing and the reflecting assembly such that the retraction assembly imparts a retraction force on the reflecting assembly to bias the reflecting assembly to the stored position;
• a deployment assembly coupled to the housing and being configured to exert a deployment force on the aperture plate of the reflecting assembly that is sufficient to overcome the retraction force of the retraction assembly and cause the reflecting assembly to move from the stored position to the deployed position;
• and
• an optical measurement system disposed within the housing, the optical measurement system being configured to generate data indicative of one or more parameters related to the rail.