A system for controlling movers in a linear drive system includes a plurality of movers and a track providing segments along which the movers may travel and holding driver coils and a segment controller controlling the driver coils. Some of the segments having switches forming branches between segments. A central controller communicates operates with the segment controllers to route the movers along the track by distributing routing decisions for a given mover to a segment controller for a track on which a given mover is currently traveling.

A system and a method automatically detect whether a vehicle entering a track section of a railway network is shorter than a predefined length. The method includes detecting at a time T0 an entry of the vehicle on a first track subsection. From the time T0, the occupancy states of at least a first subsection and a third subsection are determined in dependence on the time. The occupancy state is either occupied or free. The occupancy states for at least first and third subsections is reported to an evaluation unit at least until the occupancy state of the first subsection is free. The reported occupancy states determined for the at least first and third subsections are processed by the evaluation unit, and from a temporal evolution of the occupancy states of the first and third subsections, it is determined whether the entering vehicle is shorter than the predefined length.

A railroad system including a wayside inspector system responsive to data originated from a real-time train tracking system, such as GPS or PTC is provided. The data from the real-time train tracking system includes data indicative of a respective train en route to a respective crossing. The data is further indicative of a respective direction of travel on a respective railway track of the respective train en route to the respective crossing. Disclosed embodiments offer a technical solution involving no physical sensing devices on the railway tracks for detection of the respective train en route to the respective crossing. This solution is effective for automated testing and reporting of timely activation of crossing warning equipment based on the data originated from the real-time train tracking system.

A railroad system including a wayside inspector system responsive to data originated from a real-time train tracking system, such as GPS or PTC is provided. The data from the real-time train tracking system includes data indicative of a respective train en route to a respective crossing. The data is further indicative of a respective direction of travel on a respective railway track of the respective train en route to the respective crossing. Disclosed embodiments offer a technical solution involving no physical sensing devices on the railway tracks for detection of the respective train en route to the respective crossing. This solution is effective for automated testing and reporting of timely activation of crossing warning equipment based on the data originated from the real-time train tracking system.

In one aspect, a mobile railway asset monitoring apparatus is provided that includes a sensor configured to produce a signal indicative of a rotation of a wheelset of a mobile railway asset. The apparatus further includes a processor to receive data corresponding to a ground speed of the mobile railway asset. The processor is operably coupled to the sensor, the processor configured to estimate a running dimension of the wheelset based at least in part on the rotation of the wheelset and the ground speed of the mobile railway asset. The processor is configured to determine at least one parameter of the mobile railway asset based at least in part on the running dimension of the wheelset.

In one aspect, a mobile railway asset monitoring apparatus is provided that includes a sensor configured to produce a signal indicative of a rotation of a wheelset of a mobile railway asset. The apparatus further includes a processor to receive data corresponding to a ground speed of the mobile railway asset. The processor is operably coupled to the sensor, the processor configured to estimate a running dimension of the wheelset based at least in part on the rotation of the wheelset and the ground speed of the mobile railway asset. The processor is configured to determine at least one parameter of the mobile railway asset based at least in part on the running dimension of the wheelset.

A particularly flexible method for automatically calibrating a wheel sensor includes using the wheel sensor to determine that a calibration must be carried out. The wheel sensor determines a point in time suitable for carrying out the calibration and the calibration itself is carried out by the wheel sensor at the determined point in time. A wheel sensor for carrying out the method is also provided.

A particularly flexible method for automatically calibrating a wheel sensor includes using the wheel sensor to determine that a calibration must be carried out. The wheel sensor determines a point in time suitable for carrying out the calibration and the calibration itself is carried out by the wheel sensor at the determined point in time. A wheel sensor for carrying out the method is also provided.

A computer-implemented method for alerting a user to the presence of a fault in an electromechanical system in a railway infrastructure, the method comprising: receiving electrical usage data indicative of the value of an electrical usage parameter associated with the electromechanical system; receiving temperature data indicative of the present temperature of the electromechanical system; determining, based on a predetermined relationship between the electrical usage parameter and the temperature, whether or not the value of the electrical usage parameter is indicative of a fault in the electromechanical system and if so, issuing an alert to indicate the presence of the fault.

An economical information transmission system for rail transport includes a transmitter having a known transmission power for communication between a track section and a rail vehicle. A receiver has at least one first adjustable receive level threshold, with which a maximum distance between the transmitter and the receiver can be defined in a particular application, within which the receiver is able to receive with respect to the transmitter. An information transmission method is also provided.