Camera invented to save elephants from trains

25 February 2025 07:16 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 27 Bookmark

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By Shane Seneviratne

Colombo, Feb 25 (Daily Mirror) - The Engineering Faculty of the Peradeniya University has invented a camera to save wild elephants from being run over by trains.

The camera system, based on Artificial Intelligence (AI)
that signals the driver to identify any object 500 metres ahead the train, is to be fitted on to the railway engine.

Head of the Faculty of Engineering Prof. Lilantha Samaranayake said that CCTV cameras that signals on objects at a distance of 500 metres have not yet been invented and that the Engineering Faculty had applied Artificial Intelligence to this new invention.

Prof. Samaranayake said the Engineering Faculty had been experimenting an effective mechanism to save wild elephants from train accidents. He said it is not possible to stop a train at once and that the driver could identify the wild elephants crossing the railway line well on time through this camera system and will be in a position to stop the train.

Comments - 27

Ram Tuesday, 25 February 2025 07:33 PM

If a remotely controlled pilot small engine by battery or petrol energy operated with infrared camera, lights and horns is commisioned if front of the engine with maintaining distance according to the speed can avoid many accidents and derailments.

3 12

Use Satellite Images Tuesday, 25 February 2025 07:43 PM

Hope these cameras can function at bends too. There must be other ways to detect the elephants in danger of being killed by the trains. Hope Elon Musk’s StarLink satellite system can be used to give out satellite imagery for the train drivers to lookout for the elephants in advance.

0 12

martin Tuesday, 25 February 2025 07:57 PM

Why not treat the root cause of the problem? Locomotive drivers exceeding the posted limits instead of focus on these silly gadamtics? Why no dash cams on trains yet? I took the same train once at night and we were going at least 80kmph in middle of the thick jungle. GPS speed monitoring should be mandatory for all trains. Many local companies offer this service now. CGR always trying to find away to deflect the blame away from this when they are part of the problem. They dont want to put dashcams, or speed monitoring as the public will blame them.

7 31

Judge Tuesday, 25 February 2025 07:59 PM

Damn! A camera? Wow. Invented?! Just to let you know, there are cameras that are looking at objects 5 billion km away right now. So please say you "invented". You can also order a an infrared camera on Alibaba and then claim you invented.

9 26

An International Businessman Tuesday, 25 February 2025 08:05 PM

Great invention. Kudos to the Engineering Faculty of Peradeniya. I hope the government encourages more inventions from all sectors for the betterment of the country and it's people.

10 11

National Observer Wednesday, 26 February 2025 02:58 PM

Was already in use in Europe and Canada to chase away bears from train tracks in remote areas. Why re invent??. - ahh it's a not made in SL syndrome of the idiots....

0 0

National Observer Wednesday, 26 February 2025 02:58 PM

Was already in use in Europe and Canada to chase away bears from train tracks in remote areas. Why re invent??. - ahh it's a not made in SL syndrome of the idiots....

0 0

Terrence Thambyrajah Tuesday, 25 February 2025 09:23 PM

Camera is not the solution. Controlling Speed is the only solution. 500 Meters will not help if the speed is not controlled.

2 28

Man Wednesday, 26 February 2025 06:46 AM

Absolutely correct. Clearing sides and illuminating the track will not serve any purpose if the speed is high and not slow. The power for illumination will cause electrocution of elephants leading to deaths, unabated. Ridiculous indeed!

0 3

R Navaratnam Tuesday, 25 February 2025 10:10 PM

Lets wait to see the results. The word "Invented". Does the author of this news understands the meaning of Invented.

2 22

Danny Tuesday, 25 February 2025 10:37 PM

May not be a good solution but cameras in hotspots to catch elephants movements and alert the stations nearby to inform the drivers.

0 0

Rip Winkle Wednesday, 26 February 2025 12:25 AM

Well done, gentlemen. Sincerely hope it's installed on all trains and works without a hitch. Congratulations!

1 1

E Fac guy Wednesday, 26 February 2025 01:02 AM

Hats off for the guys at Engineering Faculty.

1 1

Ram P Wednesday, 26 February 2025 05:06 AM

The invention is clever. This may not work when the track is windy/curvy. Further the animal can escape to the track from shorter distance from the train. What Ram (not me as I am Ram P) has suggested in this column could be more plausible. If the train engine can emit some electronic rays that are not palatable to eliphants/animals covering a distance of 100meters in front, that can be of some help to chase the animals from the track

0 0

Nihal S Wednesday, 26 February 2025 05:36 AM

Good work by the Engineering Faculty team. What is the cost per camera? Let us hope the Government will support trialing a few of them aiming to improve the product and wider applications.

0 2

Ylg Wednesday, 26 February 2025 06:11 AM

Good job.

0 1

Umar Perera Wednesday, 26 February 2025 06:53 AM

All these gadgets presume that the train goes at less than 30kmph. But that's not the reality. Also, this train did not run for decades during the height of the civil war and elephants could cross the tracks without fear. That knowledge is passed on through DNA in animals, especially elephants. Ideally the trainline should be diverted from this reserve or run only in daylight. There are no consequences for the train drivers and others who hold responsibility for not killing elephants. Only the elephants suffer and die.

0 2

senakab Wednesday, 26 February 2025 07:24 AM

how about triggering an ultrasonic sound wave kind of thing that only animals can hear, it should be irritating sound so that it can be beneficial for all animals, cows dogs cats, elephants and other wildlife? as long as not a nuisance for humans should be good i guess?

0 0

NiranjanA Wednesday, 26 February 2025 08:06 AM

Bends will be an issue? Hope university has addressed it too

0 2

Inshi Wednesday, 26 February 2025 09:04 AM

Put up luminous boards to indicate elephant territory and limit the speed so that the brakes could be applied well on time. If the driver is sober and alert he should be able to prevent any tragedy. Reward drivers who maintain a clean record.

0 1

BuffaloaCitizen Wednesday, 26 February 2025 09:09 AM

Utter bullshit claiming "invention". The basics of this invention will be IR Technology and AI, both invented already from other countries. The only inventions we can proudly state is our corruption, criminality, thuggery, bankruptcy all that are fully State Sponsored.

1 3

N. Senthilkumaran Wednesday, 26 February 2025 09:31 AM

"Effective mechanism"- as in the camera can apply the locomotive and or train brakes automatically? That would be quite effective, no?

2 0

PG Wednesday, 26 February 2025 09:42 AM

Sri Lankan invented a camera after Joseph Nicéphore Niépce invented the camera in 1816? I might be able to invent the light bulb. I have a few AI controlled light bulbs at home that I bought online. Should I have said I invented them?

1 3

Felix Wednesday, 26 February 2025 10:09 AM

There are THERMAL DETECTORS that can detect objects and living creatures as far as 15 to 20km and more which are being used for military purposes.

0 3

Jagath. Wednesday, 26 February 2025 10:35 AM

Please do something. Said subject is pending years when any incident happens, Gov .. talks and goes away with the time..

0 4

james Wednesday, 26 February 2025 01:39 PM

Mark my words. This incident will happen again in less than a year. This is just an eyewash. Only solution to the problem is precisely controlling train speeds in this track.

0 3

Ravana Wednesday, 26 February 2025 01:52 PM

AI the brakes. These drunk, smoking drivers will not pay attention even if you have an elephant with them inside the engine room.

0 5

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