A Non-contact Monitoring System for Pantograph Slider Wear

The pantograph is mounted on the roof of the train and is an important electrical device that obtains power from the contact wire for train operation. Real-time monitoring of pantograph slider thickness is critical to ensure reliable train operation. However, the monitoring of pantograph slider thickness is challenging due to the complex dynamic environment of pantographs. In this paper, we propose a non-contact monitoring system for pantograph slider wear. First, the system installation scheme and workflow are introduced. Second, an image-based slider wear calculation method is presented. The slider wear is collected based on image processing algorithms such as image pre-processing, edge detection, and slider wear calculation. The system was installed in Guanhu metro station, Guangzhou Metro Line 13, and the performance of the system was evaluated using real-time pantograph images. The site results show that the presented system can inspect slider wear with good accuracy compared to the manual measurement value.