Railroad crossing object detection systems and methods include radar sensors detecting object presence, speed and heading in a different manner. A controller compares signal outputs from the different sensors to provide traffic control preemption signals and self-diagnose sensor problems. The sensor devices may include an ultra-wideband (UWB) impulse radar device and at least one reflective device providing failsafe object presence detection and object non-presence detection in redundant fashion with at least a second sensor device such as a side-fired radar device.

A system for resolving range ambiguity includes a wave generator a modulator for applying a digital signature to a continuous wave to generate a digitally-signed continuous wave, a transmitter for emitting the digitally-signed continuous wave from the ranging system as interrogating radiation towards an object, a receiver for receiving a portion of the interrogating radiation after reflection from the object, a correlator for correlating the portion of the interrogating radiation against the emitted digitally signed continuous wave according to the digital signature, a processor for determining from correlation in the correlator an elapsed time period between emitting the interrogating radiation and receiving the portion of the interrogating radiation after reflection from the object, wherein the processor calculates a range of the object from the transmitter by employing space-time adaptive processing and to determine a velocity of the object from correlation in the correlator using Doppler detection.

A radar system for monitoring a region of interest including a receiving antenna arrangement for receiving signals from a region of interest and a receiver signal processing arrangement for processing received signals. The radar system further includes at an auxiliary channel antenna arrangement for receiving signals from at least the region of interest and with a sensing characteristic for received signals which is mutually different to that of the receiving antenna arrangement. The receiver signal processing arrangement is operable to process the received signals from the receiving antenna arrangement and the auxiliary channel antenna arrangement to discriminate a jamming and/or interfering source in or near the region of interest.

Disclosed is a calibration device of an imaging system for a moving carrier, the imaging system including: a support panel; an antenna array comprising radiating elements positioned on the support panel; and optical sensors capable of providing images and positioned on the support panel. The calibration device includes at least one optical pattern generator, each generator being secured to the support panel.

In one embodiment, a railroad scout vehicle system includes a scout vehicle and a processing unit. The scout vehicle may include at least two wheels configured to engage a set of railroad tracks, a motor mechanically coupled to at least one of the wheels, a speed controller, an electromagnetic sensor aimed at the set of railroad tracks, a positioning receiver, a local speed sensing device and a transceiver. The speed controller may be coupled to the motor and configured to control the speed of the scout vehicle in order to maintain an appropriate distance between the scout vehicle and a train traveling behind. The processing unit may be configured to transmit the track status information via the transceiver, receive train speed and position signals from the train via the transceiver.

A transport system including a plurality of transport vehicles is provided. Each of the plurality of transport vehicles includes: a distance detecting portion configured to detect a distance D to a preceding transport vehicle, which is another transport vehicle traveling in front of the corresponding transport vehicle; a signal transmitting portion capable of transmitting a start signal to a subsequent transport vehicle, which is another transport vehicle traveling behind the corresponding transport vehicle; and a signal receiving portion capable of receiving the start signal that is transmitted from the preceding transport vehicle. Each of the plurality of transport vehicles is configured to transmit, when starting to travel, the start signal using the signal transmitting portion, to start to travel upon receiving the start signal from the preceding transport vehicle using the signal receiving portion, and to stop when the distance D to the preceding transport vehicle that is detected by the distance detecting portion is equal to or smaller than a set distance TH1.

A train control unit may comprise a probe attached to a first rail of a track way, and a sensor device attached to a second rail of the track way configured to determine the position of the probe, whereby the position of the first rail relative to the second rail may be determined. The train control unit is preferably independent of equipment controlling the position of the first and second rails. Some embodiments of the train control unit may be employed as a track monitor, a switch monitor and/or a wayside monitor.

A positive train control system and method may comprise one or more switch monitors and/or one or more track monitors providing sensor data relative to one or more switches and/or one or more tracks, respectively, determining whether there is an anomaly of a switch or track, and when there is, providing a message, alert and/or warning, and/or initiating a train control action. Determination of an anomaly may be preformed on a train or at a remote location, e.g., a central facility.

Systems and method of calibrating a range measurement system for a vehicle mounted on a guideway are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method includes: measuring a first time of transmission (TOT) between a first internal component of an on-board range measurement device and a second internal component of a wayside range measurement device. The first TOT is compared with a first pre-determined time. A health of the range measurement system is determined based on a difference between the first TOT and the first pre-determined time.

A method for operating a rail vehicle with radar sensors arranged at both ends of the vehicle. The method includes: carrying out an object detection of upcoming obstacles and objects by operating a radar sensor in the direction of travel in normal mode, in which an obstacle detection of approaching objects ahead in the roadway is carried out based an a radar detection; detecting an approaching object, if a superimposed determined radar pulse pattern is received in the radar detection with the radar sensor in normal mode, wherein the determined radar pulse pattern corresponds to a radar pulse pattern that deviates from a radar transmission signal in normal operation.