A sensor system senses one or more characteristics of vehicles in a vehicle system with sensors disposed onboard the vehicles and communicate data representative of the one or more characteristics from the sensors to one or more of a controller or a control system of the vehicle system. The data communicated from the sensors onboard the same vehicle can be synchronously communicated with respect to the sensors onboard the same vehicle and asynchronously communicated with respect to the sensors disposed onboard one or more other vehicles in the vehicle system. The systems and methods can direct components disposed onboard a vehicle system to change operations, monitor data output by sensors operatively connected with the components, and determine which of the sensors are operatively connected with which of the components based on the operations of the components that are changed and the data that is output by the sensors.

A non-stop train system including a plurality of train cars in communication with one another and in communication with an electronic control module. The train system further includes a track having a plurality of drop off and pick up locations. A prepositioned train car is stopped on the track at one of the drop off and pick up locations. A non-stop express train approaches the drop off and pick up location on the track initiating the prepositioned train car to begin departure. The electronic control module is used to adjust the speed of the non-stop express train and the prepositioned train car based on a detected distance such that a front coupler of the non-stop express train couples to the rear coupler of the prepositioned train car while moving along the track.

A non-stop train system including a plurality of train cars in communication with one another and in communication with an electronic control module. The train system further includes a track having a plurality of drop off and pick up locations. A prepositioned train car is stopped on the track at one of the drop off and pick up locations. A non-stop express train approaches the drop off and pick up location on the track initiating the prepositioned train car to begin departure. The electronic control module is used to adjust the speed of the non-stop express train and the prepositioned train car based on a detected distance such that a front coupler of the non-stop express train couples to the rear coupler of the prepositioned train car while moving along the track.

A positioning guidance system and method based on guide rails, comprising: a host computer; a guide rail band; a plurality of beacons arranged along the guide rail band; and a receiver array fixedly mounted on a target to be positioned and guided, wherein: the host computer is connected to the guide rail band and the beacons; the beacons are connected to the receiver array; the host computer transmits movement requirements and a list and sequence of beacons to be passed to the receiver array through the beacons; the guide rail band transmits a positioning guidance signal to the receiver array; and the receiver array determines a relative position of the target to be positioned and guided by taking the guide rail band as reference, according to a projection of the guide rail band on the receiver array.

A positioning guidance system and method based on guide rails, comprising: a host computer; a guide rail band; a plurality of beacons arranged along the guide rail band; and a receiver array fixedly mounted on a target to be positioned and guided, wherein: the host computer is connected to the guide rail band and the beacons; the beacons are connected to the receiver array; the host computer transmits movement requirements and a list and sequence of beacons to be passed to the receiver array through the beacons; the guide rail band transmits a positioning guidance signal to the receiver array; and the receiver array determines a relative position of the target to be positioned and guided by taking the guide rail band as reference, according to a projection of the guide rail band on the receiver array.

External interaction with a mover in an independent cart system is allowed at known locations along the track. The mover is initially propelled along the track in a first operating state. When the mover arrives at a station, the controller generates a signal to alert the external actuator of the presence of a mover at the station. After waiting at the station for a first predefined time interval, the controller switches to a second operating state, in which the coils are de-energized or the controller is reconfigured to operate in a less responsive manner than in the first operating state. The controller remains in the second operating state for a second predefined interval, during which the external actuator interacts with the mover or a load on the mover. After the second predefined interval, the controller enters a third operating state, and the controller propels the mover away from the station.

External interaction with a mover in an independent cart system is allowed at known locations along the track. The mover is initially propelled along the track in a first operating state. When the mover arrives at a station, the controller generates a signal to alert the external actuator of the presence of a mover at the station. After waiting at the station for a first predefined time interval, the controller switches to a second operating state, in which the coils are de-energized or the controller is reconfigured to operate in a less responsive manner than in the first operating state. The controller remains in the second operating state for a second predefined interval, during which the external actuator interacts with the mover or a load on the mover. After the second predefined interval, the controller enters a third operating state, and the controller propels the mover away from the station.

In one embodiment, a propulsion system includes roaming vehicles including a reaction plate installed on a bottom of each of the roaming vehicles, a surface stator matrix installed with a running surface for the roaming vehicles and including single sided linear induction motors (SSLIMs). Each of the SSLIMs include two windings installed orthogonally to one another. The propulsion system also includes motor drives configured to electrically couple to the SSLIMs via a switching panel, and a control system configured to receive information related to the roaming vehicles, receive a desired motion profile for the roaming vehicles across the surface stator matrix, determine which of the SSLIMs to activate and a performance of the SSLIMs based on the desired motion profile, the information, or some combination thereof, and send control signals to the motor drives to control the SSLIMs to produce the motion profile.

In one embodiment, a propulsion system includes roaming vehicles including a reaction plate installed on a bottom of each of the roaming vehicles, a surface stator matrix installed with a running surface for the roaming vehicles and including single sided linear induction motors (SSLIMs). Each of the SSLIMs include two windings installed orthogonally to one another. The propulsion system also includes motor drives configured to electrically couple to the SSLIMs via a switching panel, and a control system configured to receive information related to the roaming vehicles, receive a desired motion profile for the roaming vehicles across the surface stator matrix, determine which of the SSLIMs to activate and a performance of the SSLIMs based on the desired motion profile, the information, or some combination thereof, and send control signals to the motor drives to control the SSLIMs to produce the motion profile.

In a normal operating mode, track-bound vehicles report their respective position to a track-side device and the track-side device determines a respective movement authority taking into account the reported positions for the track-bound vehicles and transmits the movement authorities to the respective track-bound vehicle. If a track-bound vehicles is faulty and cannot ensure its integrity, and it is consequently not able to report a valid or reliable position, a switch-over into a fault mode takes place without interrupting the travel operation of the track-bound vehicles. In the fault mode the faulty track-bound vehicle determines a position of one of its vehicle ends and reports the position together with information that it cannot ensure its integrity, to the track-side device. Movement authorities are then determined by the track-side device, taking into account the reported position of the one vehicle end and track vacancy information of a track-side track vacancy system.