• Active thermography
• Ibeam
• Laser Doppler Vibrometer
• Mosaiq v4
• NDT techniques
• Network Rail
• Polytec Vibsoft package
• Pulsed thermography
• Rail
• Rail foot defects
• Robotic inspection
• technology limitations

Safe operation of railways is one of the most important challenges of Network Rail. Thanks to the improvement of inspection and maintenance practices, the total number of defects that occur on rails has decreased in recent years. However, damage occurring on the rail foot remains critical. Current inspection technologies have limited capability for this type of defect. This research aims to validate a non-contact rail inspection concept; as part of a wider European robotic inspection research project. Laser Doppler vibrometer and thermography camera were experimentally evaluated and their effectiveness assessed. Experiments were performed on metal plates first, in order to carry out a pre-evaluation of the two systems. I-beams simulating rails were tested subsequently. Recommendations regarding the automation of the new inspection concept were provided, included technology requirements and limitations.