A rail detecting device includes: a starting-region rail-starting-point redesignating unit that shifts a starting region for detecting rails to set a modified starting region and designates modified starting points of two rails at the lower edge of the modified starting region when portions of the two rails are not detected based on rail segments in an image; a rail-candidate detecting unit that detects multiple lines in the modified starting region as multiple modified rail candidates, the lines being candidates of edges of the two rails; a starting-region-rail assigning unit that assigns modified rail candidates whose lowest ends are closest to the corresponding modified starting points out of the multiple modified rail candidates as tentative modified rail segments; and a starting-region-rail disappearance determining unit that establishes the tentative modified rail segments as modified rail segments when distances between the lowest ends of the tentative modified rail segments.

A forward monitoring device for a train includes: a storage unit storing map information representing location information and a track geometry of a track and brake performance information representing performance of a train brake system; a train information acquisition unit obtaining train location information and train speed information; a monitoring unit monitoring an upside of the track in the travel direction; an obstacle determination unit determining presence or absence of an obstacle on the track based on a monitoring result of the monitoring unit; a braking distance calculation unit calculating a train braking distance using the map, brake performance, train location, and train speed information, and a processing time from when the monitoring unit performs monitoring until determination on presence or absence of an obstacle; and a monitoring distance determination unit determining a monitoring distance based on the braking distance to set a monitoring range of the monitoring unit.

An obstacle detection device to be installed on a train includes: a sensor that monitors a monitoring region and outputs a monitoring result; an obstacle detection unit that determines presence or absence of an obstacle on a route on the basis of the monitoring result, and outputs a detection result; a monitoring distance determination unit that uses the detection result to determine a monitoring distance from the train to a reference; and a monitoring region determination unit that determines a monitoring region by using the monitoring distance, in which, when changing the monitoring distance, the monitoring distance determination unit acquires the monitoring region, and changes the monitoring distance such that a part of a monitored first monitoring region overlaps with a part of a second monitoring region based on the changed monitoring distance, in order not to generate a region not monitored.

An obstacle detection device to be installed on a train includes: a sensor that monitors a monitoring region and outputs a monitoring result; an obstacle detection unit that determines presence or absence of an obstacle on a route on the basis of the monitoring result, and outputs a detection result; a monitoring distance determination unit that uses the detection result to determine a monitoring distance from the train to a reference; and a monitoring region determination unit that determines a monitoring region by using the monitoring distance, in which, when changing the monitoring distance, the monitoring distance determination unit acquires the monitoring region, and changes the monitoring distance such that a part of a monitored first monitoring region overlaps with a part of a second monitoring region based on the changed monitoring distance, in order not to generate a region not monitored.

A vehicle control system and method includes identifying a segment of a route where one or more first vehicle systems were operated manually instead of operated by one or more processors according to one or more trip plans during prior traversals of the segment by the one or more first vehicle systems. A segment plan is generated for traversing the segment under control of the one or more processors. The segment plan is generated based on how the one or more first vehicle systems were manually operated during the prior traversals of the segment. One or more second vehicle systems are controlled with the one or more processors to traverse the segment according to the segment plan.

A vehicle control system and method includes identifying a segment of a route where one or more first vehicle systems were operated manually instead of operated by one or more processors according to one or more trip plans during prior traversals of the segment by the one or more first vehicle systems. A segment plan is generated for traversing the segment under control of the one or more processors. The segment plan is generated based on how the one or more first vehicle systems were manually operated during the prior traversals of the segment. One or more second vehicle systems are controlled with the one or more processors to traverse the segment according to the segment plan.

According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of systems and methods for safety locking of operator control units for remote control locomotives. In an exemplary embodiment, a system includes a machine control unit located on a locomotive to control operation of the locomotive, a primary operator control unit including a primary network interface configured to transmit received input commands to the machine control unit to control motion of the locomotive, and a secondary operation control unit including a secondary network interface and a secondary input interface. The secondary operator control unit is configured to operate in a secondary role that does not include motion control of the locomotive, and the secondary operator control unit is configured to transmit a lock command to the machine control unit to inhibit movement of the locomotive in response to receiving a lock command input at the secondary input interface.

According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of systems and methods for safety locking of operator control units for remote control locomotives. In an exemplary embodiment, a system includes a machine control unit located on a locomotive to control operation of the locomotive, a primary operator control unit including a primary network interface configured to transmit received input commands to the machine control unit to control motion of the locomotive, and a secondary operation control unit including a secondary network interface and a secondary input interface. The secondary operator control unit is configured to operate in a secondary role that does not include motion control of the locomotive, and the secondary operator control unit is configured to transmit a lock command to the machine control unit to inhibit movement of the locomotive in response to receiving a lock command input at the secondary input interface.

A detection unit of a situation device detects the number of people inside the vehicle shown in the photographed image obtained by photographing the inside of the vehicle through a window provided on the side surface of the vehicle along the traveling direction of the vehicle from the outside of the vehicle. A correction unit corrects the detected number of people according to a predetermined correction method to estimate the number of passengers including the number of people, in the seat vehicle portion, not shown in the captured image. A determination unit determines the congestion status of the vehicle by using the number of passengers estimated by the correction unit and the number of seats given in advance. An output unit outputs the determined congestion status to the notification device.

A detection unit of a situation device detects the number of people inside the vehicle shown in the photographed image obtained by photographing the inside of the vehicle through a window provided on the side surface of the vehicle along the traveling direction of the vehicle from the outside of the vehicle. A correction unit corrects the detected number of people according to a predetermined correction method to estimate the number of passengers including the number of people, in the seat vehicle portion, not shown in the captured image. A determination unit determines the congestion status of the vehicle by using the number of passengers estimated by the correction unit and the number of seats given in advance. An output unit outputs the determined congestion status to the notification device.