Abstract:
A position determining system for a vehicle on a guideway which includes an on-board controller configured to determine a position of the vehicle on the guideway. The position determining system further includes a transmitter/detector array configured to emit an interrogation signal and to receive reflection signals based on the emitted interrogation signal. The transmitter/detector array includes a first antenna and a second antenna, the second antenna spaced from the first antenna in a direction of travel of the vehicle. The position determining system further includes a transponder identification database configured to store transponder information. The on-board controller is configured to determine the position of the vehicle along the guideway based on a modulated reflection signal received by the transmitter/detector array and a first non-modulated reflection signal received by the transmitter/detector array.
Abstract:
A method of determining a position of a vehicle on a guideway includes detecting a position of the vehicle relative to a first reflective positioning element along the guideway. The method also includes detecting a unique identification code of a transponder along the guideway, wherein the transponder is located a first known distance along the guideway from the first reflective positioning element. The method further includes determining the position of the vehicle, using a position determining system, based on a modulated reflection signal received from the transponder, a first non-modulated reflection signal received from the first reflective positioning element, and the first known distance.