SIGNAL+DRAHT | Issue 09/2011
Future challenges to wheel detection and axle counting
Axle counting systems with inductive wheel sensors have established themselves with many railway operators worldwide as reliable and costeffective track vacancy detection systems. Progress achieved in the development of the operating principles, manufacturing processes and materials, and the decades of practical experience, are the basis for the steadily growing number of applications and solutions. The development of ever more advanced and diverse vehicles and the increase in electromagnetic emissions and speed, however, remain a major challenge for safe and reliable wheel detection. This article, which is part 1 of a comprehensive survey, provides an overview of modern wheel sensor systems. Part 2 will deal with the state of the art in axle counting.