Abstract:
Disclosed is a railway signaling system for controlling a load. In accordance with the teachings of this invention, the system comprises a first autonomous controller and a second autonomous controller which is redundant with the first controller, each controller connectable to the load such that there is no single point of failure. The first and second controllers operable in either an on-line mode wherein both power outputs provide power to the load or an off-line mode wherein a single power output does not provide power to the load. On-line controllers monitor current therethrough. When both controllers are on-line, the current between the two controller is imbalanced up to a threshold limit, if the threshold limit is exceeded by one controller, that controller will go off line, and if the first controller is off-line and the second controller is on-line, the second controller monitors output voltages of the off-line controller to ascertain that the output voltages are zero.
Abstract:
A automatic train control system (ATCS) in which a driverless vehicle is reset remotely upon detection of a failure in an on-board controller. If the direction of the train has not changed, and none of the train doors were opened, during the time the train was disabled due to the failure, the train is controlled to resume automatic operation.
Abstract:
A localization system for a vehicle running on a guideway including portions obscured from satellite view has a number of GNSS receivers placed at strategic locations along the guideway in view of navigation satellites. GNSS transmitters retransmit received GNSS signals along an obscured portion of the guideway. Coded targets are placed at known locations along the guideway. A GNSS receiver on the vehicle picks up GNSS signals directly from the navigation satellites or retransmitted from the GNSS transmitters when on an obscured portion of the guideway. A proximity sensor on the vehicle detects the coded targets. An on-board computer synchronizes the location obtained from the GNSS signals with the location obtained from the proximity sensor. The vehicle is thus able to determine its position even in an obscured portion, such as a tunnel.
Abstract:
In a radio location system for vehicles moving along a guideway, a transmitter for energizes a transponder beside the guideway. A first detector for detects a response signal from the energized transponder to determine the transponder identification. A second detector detects a positional signal received from the transponder that is decoupled from the first signal and contains precise positional information. In one embodiment, the second detector picks up a crossover signal from a crossover antenna.
Abstract:
A method of determining the position of a vehicle moving along a guideway is disclosed wherein signals from groups of transponders located beside the guideway are detected as the vehicle moves along the guideway to create a footprint in the time domain corresponding to the time the vehicle is in communication with that transponder. The transponders of each group are spaced a known distance apart from each other. An estimate of the position of the moving vehicle is computed by matching the point in the time domain that bears the same geometric relationship to the footprints corresponding to the transponders of the group to a point in the spatial domain spatial domain the bears a known geometric relationship with the transponders of each group.
Abstract:
An apparatus for detecting the information about a guideway-guided vehicle having a masking component, the guideway-guided vehicle configured to follow a path of a guideway, comprising a radio frequency identification (RFID) system, method of making, and use thereof are disclosed. The RFID system comprises a first RFID transponder for transmitting, across the path, first RFID transponder specific information. An RFID reader comprises a first antenna for receiving the first RFID transponder specific information. The first RFID transponder and the first antenna are fixed relative to the path and on opposite sides of the path. The RFID reader is configured to substantially continuously monitor the first transponder specific information. The presence of the masking component of the guideway-guided vehicle between the first RFID transponder and the first antenna masks the substantially continuous monitoring of the first RFID transponder specific information.
Abstract:
A train detection system for detecting a train unit that includes a first transponder interrogator configured to generate one or more request signals for transmission, by a first antenna above a first track location, toward a first fixed transponder at the first track location; a second transponder interrogator configured to generate one or more request signals for transmission, by a second antenna above a second track location, toward a second fixed transponder at the second track location; and a controller communicably connected with the first and second transponder interrogators and configured to verify operation of the train detection system based on receipt of one or more message signals responsive to transmission of the one or more request signals from the first and second transponder interrogators.
Abstract:
A train system that includes a plurality of coupled train units. Each train unit includes a controller VOBC configured to independently determine the location of each VOBC, and a configuration of the train system by comprising a plurality of inputs, a plurality of train lines spanning each train unit and coupled with the controllers at the plurality of inputs and configured to transmit two communication signals between a front end and a rear end of the train system, and a plurality of sets of relay devices connected in series along the plurality of train lines, and each set of relay devices corresponding to each input of the plurality of inputs, and configured to transmit the two communication signals between the front end and the rear end of the train system.
Abstract:
A vehicle management system for automatic vehicles running on a guideway independent of wayside signals or interlocking devices includes intelligent on-board controllers on each vehicle for controlling operation of the vehicle. The on-board controllers communicate with each other as well as individual wayside devices and a data storage system to identify available assets needed to move along the guideway and to reserve these assets for their associated vehicle.
Abstract:
A train detection system for detecting a train unit that includes a first transponder interrogator configured to generate one or more request signals for transmission, by a first antenna above a first track location, toward a first fixed transponder at the first track location; a second transponder interrogator configured to generate one or more request signals for transmission, by a second antenna above a second track location, toward a second fixed transponder at the second track location; and a controller communicably connected with the first and second transponder interrogators and configured to verify operation of the train detection system based on receipt of one or more message signals responsive to transmission of the one or more request signals from the first and second transponder interrogators.