Optical wheel evaluation

1. A method of evaluating a wheel, the method comprising:

illuminating a path along which the wheel is anticipated to move, wherein a length of the path is at least one circumference of the wheel and the wheel will rotate at least one full revolution as it moves along the path when operating properly;

obtaining image data for the wheel as it moves along the path, the image data including data on the wheel as it is located in a plurality of positions along the path, the plurality of positions including two positions on the path that are separated by at least one circumference of the wheel and a plurality of positions between the two positions; and

measuring at least one attribute of the wheel based on the image data.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining whether at least one defect is present in the wheel based on the image data.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising determining an operational status of the wheel when at least one defect is present.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the illuminating step includes projecting a plurality of lines of light onto the path.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of lines of light is substantially vertical.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting a presence of the wheel, wherein the illuminating and obtaining step are initiated based on the detected presence.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a speed of the wheel, wherein at least one of the illuminating and obtaining steps are adjusted based on the speed.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the obtaining image data step includes emphasizing a vertical dimension of the image data.

9. A system for evaluating a wheel, the system comprising:

means for illuminating a path along which the wheel is anticipated to move, wherein a length of the path is at least one circumference of the wheel and the wheel will rotate at least one full revolution as it moves along the path when operating properly;

means for obtaining image data for the wheel as it moves along the path, the image data including data on the wheel as it is located in a plurality of positions along the path, the plurality of positions including two positions on the path that are separated by at least one circumference of the wheel and a plurality of positions between the two positions; and

means for measuring at least one attribute of the wheel based on the image data.

10. The system of claim 9 , further comprising means for determining whether at least one defect is present in the wheel based on the image data.

11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising means for determining an operational status of the wheel when at least one defect is present.

12. The system of claim 9 , further comprising means for detecting a presence of the wheel, wherein the illuminating and obtaining step are initiated based on the detected presence.

13. The system of claim 9 , further comprising means for determining a speed of the wheel, wherein at least one of the illuminating and obtaining steps are adjusted based on the speed.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the means for obtaining includes means for emphasizing a vertical dimension of the image data.

15. A method of evaluating a rail wheel, the method comprising:

illuminating a rail segment, wherein a length of the rail segment is at least one circumference of the wheel and the wheel will rotate at least one full revolution as it moves along the rail segment when operating properly;

obtaining image data for the rail wheel as it moves along the rail segment, the image data including data on the wheel as it is located in a plurality of positions along the rail segment, the plurality of positions including two positions on the rail segment that are separated by at least one circumference of the wheel and a plurality of positions between the two positions; and

measuring at least one attribute of the rail wheel based on the image data.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising determining whether at least one defect is present in the rail wheel based on the image data.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising determining an operational status of the rail wheel when at least one defect is present.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the at least one defect includes an out-of-roundness defect and a flat spot.

19. A system for evaluating a rail wheel, the system comprising:

means for illuminating a rail segment, wherein a length of the rail segment is at least one circumference of the wheel and the wheel will rotate at least one full revolution as it moves along the rail segment when operating properly;

means for obtaining image data for the rail wheel as it moves along the rail segment, the image data including data on the wheel as it is located in a plurality of positions along the rail segment, the plurality of positions including two positions on the rail segment that are separated by at least one circumference of the wheel and a plurality of positions between the two positions; and

means for measuring at least one attribute of the rail wheel based on the image data.

20. The system of claim 19 , further comprising means for determining whether at least one defect is present in the rail wheel based on the image data.

21. The system of claim 20 , further comprising means for determining an operational status of the rail wheel when at least one defect is present.

22. The system of claim 19 , wherein the means for illuminating and the means for obtaining are installed on a measurement platform that includes:

a plurality of ties supporting the rail segment, wherein each tie is separated from an adjacent tie by at most six inches; and

a concrete support slab supporting the plurality of ties, wherein the concrete support slab is at least one foot thick.

23. The system of claim 19 , wherein the rail segment includes reflective material.

24. The system of claim 19 , wherein the rail segment comprises a pyramid-crown shape.