Optical route examination system and method

A system, comprising:

• a camera configured to be detachably coupled or mounted to a vehicle and to obtain one or more images of a route and the vehicle while the vehicle moves along the route, wherein the route includes a first guide lane;
• and
• a controller having one or more processors configured to determine a position of the vehicle relative to the first guide lane by measuring a first distance between the vehicle and a first guide lane, the first distance being perpendicular to a direction of movement of the vehicle,
• the one or more processors configured to determine whether a number of pixels of the one or more images exceeds a threshold value, the pixels corresponding to one or more wheels of the vehicle and that is disposed outside of a region of a benchmark visual profile of the route corresponding to a target position of the one or more wheels,
• the one or more processors further configured to determine whether an operating parameter of the vehicle is to be changed based on one or more of the first distance or the number of the pixels disposed outside of the region of the benchmark visual profile exceeding the threshold value, and
• responsive to determining that the operating parameter of the vehicle is to be changed, the one or more processors being further configured to modify the operating parameter of the vehicle to change the position of the vehicle relative to the first guide land.

A method comprising:

• obtaining one or more images of a route and a wheel of a vehicle while the vehicle is moving along the route, the route including guide lanes;
• comparing the one or more images with a benchmark visual profile of the route based at least in part on an overlay of the one or more images onto the benchmark visual profile or an overlay of the benchmark visual profile onto the one or more images, the benchmark visual profile comprising designated areas corresponding to each of the guide lanes and a region corresponding to a target position of the wheel;
• identifying a position of the wheel of the vehicle relative to the guide lanes based in part on the comparing of the one or more images with the benchmark visual profile of the route;
• determining whether the position of the wheel of the vehicle is to be changed based on a number of pixels of the one or more images corresponding to the wheel disposed outside of the region of the benchmark visual profile exceeding a threshold value;
• and
• modifying an operating parameter of the vehicle to change the position of the wheel responsive to determining that the position of the wheel of the vehicle is to be changed.