The current state of modern industrial surface inspection systems allows the application of modern technology and new solutions to detect flaws. The use of optical line sensors, spatial and temporal high resolution, modern light techniques and actual FPGA components enables surface inspection systems to have an accuracy around one tenth of a millimetre. Preliminary investigations have shown that some critical rail surface states, like micro cracks, can only be assessed at this high resolution. To cope with the resulting data rate, one has to assess the optical data at a very early stage in order to store only potentially risky surface conditions which have to be evaluated carefully offline.

Actual scientific research has shown that the present development of urban traffic causes new types of flaws on the rail which were unknown so far. The standard inspection systems using ultrasound are not able to detect this type of flaw in an early stage. But this is necessary as one can avoid heavy subsequent damage through simple actions like welding or grinding the rail. To do so the flaws have to be recognized automatically and their geo location has to be known. Moreover, a frequent observation of the surface makes the development of the flaw visible and allows for the ability to make conclusions about where critical rail conditions originate.

This project aims for the development of an optical rail scanner that allows the inspection of the rails surface and the documentation of its evolution.