In a pioneering move to address the ongoing issue of dirty linens supplied to train passengers, Indian Railways has unveiled an advanced AI-camera-based technology. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated the first state-of-the-art “stain and damage” detection machine, designed specifically for cotton bedsheets, at a facility in Pune.
Indian Railways, which uses around six lakh packets of linens daily, often faces complaints from passengers regarding the cleanliness of the linens. Each packet includes two bedsheets, one pillow cover, a hand towel, and one blanket. To improve quality control, the new machine will automatically segregate dirty linens with stains and damages using high-resolution cameras and artificial intelligence before the final packing process.
The innovative machine employs high-resolution cameras to capture detailed images of bedsheets, ensuring high accuracy in detecting stains and damages. Currently, only 2% of linens are sample-checked, with those found unclean being rejected. However, this new technology promises to significantly improve this process.
‘This (new machine) is an experiment and we will use this across the country as the technology develops. We plan to use this in the laundries in Central Railway and Western Railway. Then it will be used across all the zones in the country,’ said Vaishnaw.
The detection process involves manually loading bedsheets onto a conveyor system, which transports them through the detection area at a controlled speed using a pinching conveyor system. As the bedsheets pass through, high-resolution cameras capture detailed images, which are then processed by real-time detection software. This software uses advanced machine learning algorithms to identify and classify stains and damages with 100% accuracy. The system also records and stores data on the percentage of stains and damages for each bedsheet, focusing on quality control.
A railway official highlighted that this new technology would ensure passengers receive properly washed linen, enhancing their overall travel experience. With 80 mechanized laundries across the country, Indian Railways aims to implement this technology nationwide, starting with Central and Western Railways.
