Range-finding based image processing rail way servicing apparatus and method

A method of servicing a railway, said method comprising:

• locating a feature of a railway based upon a range measurement from a vision system the feature being located, said vision system employing light infrared detection and ranging;
• irradiating the feature by at least one laser beam emitted by at least one laser emitter;
• sensing energy radiated from the feature due to said irradiation by said laser beam by at least one infrared sensor;
• transmitting at least one signal corresponding to a property of said sensed energy;
• comparing a property of said emitted laser beam to said transmitted signal for three-dimensional identification of the feature;
• positioning a carriage carrying equipment relative to, for servicing, the feature based on said locating;
• identifying a three-dimensional attribute of the feature;
• and
• positioning the equipment with respect to the carriage relative to the attribute based on one or both of said locating and said identifying.

Apparatus for servicing a railway, said apparatus comprising:

• a vision system for determining a range from said vision system to a feature of the railway, said vision system being capable of three-dimensional identification of the feature and employing light infrared detection and ranging;
• at least one laser emitter for emitting at least one laser beam for irradiating the feature;
• at least one infrared sensor for sensing energy radiated from the feature due to said irradiation by said laser beam;
• at least one transmitter for transmitting at least one signal corresponding to a property of said sensed energy;
• a system for comparing a property of said emitted laser beam to said transmitted signal for three-dimensional identification of the feature;
• means for positioning equipment relative to, for servicing, the feature, based on the range determination by said vision system;
• and
• means for identifying a three-dimensional attribute of the feature.