A signal structure is disclosed. The signal structure may include a housing and a light head disposed within the housing. The light head may include at least one signal light mounted thereto. The signal structure may also include at least one actuator operatively coupled to the light head and configured to move the light head within the housing.

A system and method is proposed to ensure detection of signal light integrity and viewability. The system includes a wireless network of signal light monitors attached unobtrusively to the sun visors on each signal light for which monitoring is required. Each signal light monitor includes diverse sensors which detect signal light integrity and viewability. The detection sensors are simultaneously active to detect signal light intensity, color intensity and viewability. The information obtained from the sensors is transmitted wirelessly to a base signal light monitor. The base signal light monitor communicates this information over a mesh network to an edge processor. The network is self-healing and ensures data integrity using a pre-calculated communication link if a communication link between base signal light monitors is lost or broken. The edge processor is capable of image and condition analysis on the detection data and communicates events to an enterprise network for action.

A train control system includes an onboard equipment with a wireless receiver and connected to a railway vehicle, a wayside equipment with a wireless transmitter and assigned to an interlocking entry point, wherein the interlocking entry point includes a home signal, wherein the wayside equipment is configured to wirelessly transmit status data of the home signal to the onboard equipment of the railway vehicle when approaching the interlocking entry point via a wireless communication link, and wherein the onboard equipment is configured to receive the status data of the home signal via the wireless communication link and to determine a distance between the railway vehicle and the interlocking entry point.

A positioning and odometry system includes two or more vehicle beacons installed on an end of a vehicle and configured to communicate with one or more guideway beacons installed along a guideway. Processing circuitry is configured to communicate with the one or more vehicle beacons and perform at least one of: determine, before the processing circuitry enters a sleep state, a first vehicle position on the guideway; determine, after the processing circuitry wakes from the sleep state, a second vehicle position on the guideway; determine, after the processing circuitry wakes from the sleep state, any difference between the first vehicle position on the guideway and the second vehicle position on the guideway; determine a third vehicle position on the guideway using range measurements taken at configurable time intervals; and determine a vehicle speed where speed is measured as a change in the third vehicle position over time.

A signal aspect enforcement method for a rail vehicle includes determining if vehicle position is unknown. The system determines if rail vehicle speed is less than a line-of-sight threshold speed. The system determines the grade of the rail. A worst-case braking distance of rail vehicle is calculated. The signal aspect is determined using a camera system and a beacon system. The system determines if the signal aspect determined by camera system is same as signal aspect determined by beacon system and, if so, determines the route of rail vehicle and speed limit of rail vehicle.

A railroad crossing light detector system is disclosed. The system includes determining a first signal indicative of the amount of light emitted from an illuminated railroad crossing light source and determining a second signal indicative of the orientation of the crossing light. The first and second signals are transmitted to a signal determination module that compares the first and second signals to predetermined stored values. The compared signals are then provided to a railroad crossing controller for relaying to a central/remote monitoring location. In the event that at least one of the signals is out of range relative to the stored value, then an inspection request signal together with information on the location of the crossing light is provided to the central monitoring location. In this manner, the number of in-person inspections to the crossing light may be significantly reduced.

A train control system includes an onboard equipment with a wireless receiver and connected to a railway vehicle, a wayside equipment with a wireless transmitter and assigned to an interlocking entry point, wherein the interlocking entry point includes a home signal, wherein the wayside equipment is configured to wirelessly transmit status data of the home signal to the onboard equipment of the railway vehicle when approaching the interlocking entry point via a wireless communication link, and wherein the onboard equipment is configured to receive the status data of the home signal via the wireless communication link and to determine a distance between the railway vehicle and the interlocking entry point.

A supplemental shunting device indicator (SSDI) for use with respect to a shunting device for a railroad. The SSDI comprises a housing. The housing comprises a light, a clamp for surrounding at least a portion of the shunting device, a power supply, and a current-sensing switch configured to electrically connect the power supply and the light in response to detection of a current.

A signal aspect enforcement method for a rail vehicle includes determining if vehicle position is unknown. The system determines if rail vehicle speed is less than a line-of-sight threshold speed. The system determines the grade of the rail. A worst-case braking distance of rail vehicle is calculated. The signal aspect is determined using a camera system and a beacon system. The system determines if the signal aspect determined by camera system is same as signal aspect determined by beacon system and, if so, determines the route of rail vehicle and speed limit of rail vehicle.

A method of detecting signal light integrity and viewability of a plurality of signal lights is performed by a signal light monitoring system including a plurality of signal light monitors coupled to the signal lights and a network interface communicator configured to interface the signal light monitors to a wireless network. The method includes receiving detection data from each signal light monitor, measuring a first measurement of signal light integrity, processing the first measurement of signal light integrity to determine at least one signal light integrity value, retrieving at least one performance requirement associated with the signal light monitors, comparing the performance requirement to the signal integrity value, determining whether each signal light monitor is compliant with the performance requirement, and propagating the compliance determination and the first measurement of signal light integrity over the wireless network via the network interface communicator.