Award Data

Train car crowding is a key issue resulting in passenger dissatisfaction and degraded transit service. One reason for train car crowding is an uneven distribution of passengers among the train cars which results in overcrowding of certain cars while leaving other cars sparsely occupied. If passengers waiting at a station are informed about the expected crowding levels in the arriving train, they c ...

Driving under the influence of marijuana, the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States is reported to double the risk of crash involvement. As marijuana decriminalization and legalization measures continue to gain acceptance, the potential number of drivers using marijuana could rise dramatically, necessitating new ways for law enforcement to combat the pursuant increase in drug relate ...

In Phase I, Migma Systems propose to develop a robust system for detection of railway track surface cracks. Automated railway inspection is critical for ensuring the safety of public transportation. Rails often break under trains and broken tracks can lead to train derailment. In Phase I, we will make a prototype sensor with low power microprocessor, IR camera, GPS and temperature/humidity sensor ...

The intoxicating effects of marijuana are of public safety concern. With the expected increase in the use of this substance it is important to provide law-enforcement officials with a simple driver test for its detection. Because of the presence of the intoxication agent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) vapor in the exhaled breath of marijuana users, it is possible to confirm marijuana intoxication via ...

In addition to hazards relevant to automobiles, motorcycle riders must remain vigilant for hazards that pose significant danger uniquely to motorcycles, such as uneven terrain, sand/gravel, and potholes. However, there is currently no motorcycle-specific hazard tracking or alerting system available for riders. To address this need, Charles River Analytics executed a successful Phase I effort to de ...

The connected vehicles (CV) program is a DOT initiative that uses dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) to enable safer and greener surface transportation. Ongoing efforts exist to bring motor vehicles and infrastructure onto CV networks, but bicycles have been largely overlooked. Consequently, a significant need exists to bring cyclists onto these networks so other connected entities can be ...

Locomotives weigh up to 240 ton each. Rail cars can weigh from 30 ton (empty) to 140 ton (loaded). Track construction and maintenance equipment, earthmoving plant and haul trucks can all weigh 10’s of tons each. Rail road and yard workers can, literally, be surrounded by these very large, heavy and potentially dangerous pieces of equipment. When a 200-lb worker ‘argues’ with any of these equ ...

This SBIR project will develop a low cost sensor to obtain rail temperatures from a moving train. The two innovative parts of the proposed sensor are (1) a rugged four wavelength high frequency sensor that accurately measures the natural radiation emitted by the rails, and (2) an advanced algorithm that provides a emissivity compensated temperature from these measurements. The feasibility of the ...

KaZaK Composites, Inc. proposes to work with Oak Ridge National Labs and Bombardier Transportation to design and develop a lightweight, cost effective pultruded composite rail car roof. Including a novel Phase Change material core. The program goal will be the design of a composite sandwich panel replacement for the current welded aluminum roof structure of passenger rail cars. Composite design ...

A one-cylinder diesel engine will be modified to achieve a 20% to 40% improvement in fuel efficiency. This will be accomplished by insulating the interior of the combustion chamber with a proprietary thermal insulating material. Heat normally transferred to the engine coolant through the walls of the head, cylinder and piston will be retained within the combustion chamber where it is available t ...