Question 1

How accurate is FleetTherm for bearing/wheel thermal anomalies?

Accepted Answer

FleetTherm achieves 92-96% accuracy on bearing and wheel thermal anomalies. False positive rates are tunable (typically 5-10%), and all alerts include thermal imagery for maintenance team verification before component replacement.

Question 2

Can we integrate with our fleet management and parts inventory systems?

Accepted Answer

Yes. FleetTherm integrates with fleet maintenance scheduling systems and parts inventory databases. High-priority alerts trigger automated parts availability checks and maintenance slot reservation.

Question 3

What's the typical lead time for thermal failure predictions?

Accepted Answer

FleetTherm's trend analysis across multiple depot scans can identify developing thermal patterns 3-14 days before they would trigger emergency maintenance action. By tracking temperature evolution over successive depot visits, FleetTherm enables planned maintenance scheduling rather than reactive emergency response. Note: Thermal detection identifies heat after friction has begun. For earlier detection of internal bearing defects before heat generation, acoustic monitoring systems provide complementary capability.

Question 4

Does this work for both freight and passenger rolling stock?

Accepted Answer

Yes. FleetTherm supports freight cars, locomotives, passenger coaches, and light rail vehicles. Models are tuned by fleet type, service conditions (commuter vs. long-haul), and maintenance history.

Question 5

What's the difference between FleetTherm and wayside Hot Box Detectors?

Accepted Answer

Wayside HBDs capture a single temperature reading as trains pass at 40+ mph. FleetTherm performs complete thermal imaging when vehicles are stationary or moving slowly through the depot, enabling complete bearing and brake profiling that wayside systems cannot achieve.

Question 6

Does FleetTherm detect internal bearing defects?

Accepted Answer

Thermal imaging detects heat generated by friction, meaning a defect must have progressed to the point of generating abnormal heat. For detection of internal bearing defects before heat generation, acoustic monitoring (like TADS or RailBAM) provides complementary earlier warning. FleetTherm and acoustic monitoring work best together.

Question 7

Can FleetTherm detect cold wheels (brakes not applying)?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Cold wheel detection identifies wheels that remain below expected temperature after operation, indicating brakes that failed to apply during service. This is a critical safety function as brake failure is not detected by hot wheel/hot box systems.

Question 8

How does FleetTherm integrate with our CMMS?

Accepted Answer

FleetTherm provides REST APIs for integration with major CMMS platforms including Maximo, SAP PM, Optram, and custom systems. Alert data includes severity, location, temperature readings, historical trend, and recommended action, ready for automated work order generation.

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