Bloomberg: Ohio train crash puts spotlight on heat sensors
UC College of Engineering and Applied Science professor explains sensor technology
Bloomberg News turned to a mechanical engineering professor at the University of Cincinnati to explain how the rail industry prevents accidents like the Feb. 3 derailment that caused a chemical spill into the Ohio River.
According to Bloomberg News, the nation's rail system relies on a network of heat sensors designed to detect when bearings overheat. But these systems are prone to false alarms and antiquated compared to monitoring systems used in many other industries.
Heat sensors have helped to reduce rail accidents from bearing or axle failures by 81% since 1980, Bloomberg said.
UC Professor Sam Anand
UC College of Engineering and Applied Science Professor Sam Anand told Bloomberg News that companies typically use sophisticated vibration or acoustic monitoring devices.
“Any expensive modern machinery you see on the factory floor, they all have embedded sensors,” Anand told Bloomberg News.
Anand studies additive manufacturing and manufacturing systems optimization. He has worked extensively with technology innovator Siemens to develop virtual simulations and predictive algorithms that can anticipate a manufacturing factory’s ebb and flow, from optimizing productivity to predicting when a machine likely will break down.
Anand helps oversee UC's Industry 4.0/5.0 Institute.
Featured image at top: UC's Mantei Center. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand
Related Stories
Can new rules in Ohio address a pharmacy staffing shortage and improve care?
May 17, 2024
The University of Cincinnati's Michael Hegener joined WVXU's Cincinnati Edition to discuss recent rules released by the Ohio Board of Pharmacy designed to address pharmacy staffing.
Residents concerned about high concentration of low-income housing
May 16, 2024
Efforts to build more affordable housing in Cincinnati have created concerns for residents as low-income housing has been concentrated in some of the city’s poorest neighborhoods, WCPO reported. Gary Painter, PhD, the academic director of the University of Cincinnati’s Carl H. Lindner College of Business real estate program and a professor of real estate, said a complaint against the city could lead to positive outcomes.
Is ketamine the answer to treatment-resistant depression?
May 16, 2024
The University of Cincinnati's Stephen Rush joined WVXU's Cincinnati Edition to discuss the use of ketamine and esketamine to treat treatment-resistant depression.