Method and apparatus are disclosed to facilitate mitigation of vehicle trapping on railroad crossings. An example vehicle comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, sensors, a transceiver, a processor and a memory. The GPS receiver generates location information. The sensors generate vehicle information. The processor and memory are in communication with the sensors, the GPS receiver, and the transceiver. The processor is configured to: determine whether the vehicle is stranded on a railroad crossing using the location information and the vehicle information; if the vehicle is stranded, generate a help request; and transmit the help request to neighboring vehicles.

A terminal device which receives command information from a central device in a train information management system, includes a transmission-reception unit which transmits and receives the command information to and from the central device or other terminal device and periodically receives command information from a plurality of central devices, a control unit which determines whether or not management information, which is information on a train composition set by a central device which is a transmission source, regarding the received command information, is normal command information and determines command information to be adopted based on a priority set to the central device which is the transmission source when receiving the normal command information from the plurality of central devices, and a storage unit which stores information on the priorities set to the plurality of central devices.

A communication system includes a data manager unit, a private interface, and an open interface. The data manager unit is configured to be disposed onboard a vehicle and to manage a transmission of data from a control system of the vehicle to a plurality of applications. The private interface is configured to communicably couple the data manager unit to the control system of the vehicle, and to limit communication with the control system via a connection protocol, wherein the connection protocol is configured to prevent direct communication between the data manager unit and an application that does not use the connection protocol. The open interface is configured to communicably couple the data manager unit and the plurality of applications.

A communication system includes a data manager unit, a private interface, and an open interface. The data manager unit is configured to be disposed onboard a vehicle and to manage a transmission of data from a control system of the vehicle to a plurality of applications. The private interface is configured to communicably couple the data manager unit to the control system of the vehicle, and to limit communication with the control system via a connection protocol, wherein the connection protocol is configured to prevent direct communication between the data manager unit and an application that does not use the connection protocol. The open interface is configured to communicably couple the data manager unit and the plurality of applications.

A method and an apparatus for a train control system are disclosed, and are based on virtualization of train control logic and the use of cloud computing resources. A train control system is configured into two main parts. The first part includes physical elements of the train control system, and the second part includes a virtual train control system that provides the computing resources for the required train control application platforms. The disclosed architecture can be used with various train control technologies, including communications based train control, cab-signaling and fixed block, wayside signal technology. Further, the disclosure describes methodologies to convert cab-signaling and manual operations into distance to go operation.

A system and method include receiver assemblies disposed onboard a vehicle system and spaced apart from each other along a length of the vehicle system. The receiver assemblies are configured to receive a signal responsive to an event occurring on the vehicle system between the receiver assemblies, and to determine times at which the receiver assemblies received the signal. A controller is configured to identify a section of the vehicle system that includes a source of the event based on the times at which the receiver assemblies received the signal and a distance between at least two of the receiver assemblies.

A train control system includes independent virtual in-train forces modeling engines onboard each of a plurality of locomotives in a train. Each of the plurality of locomotives may also include an analytics engine and a calibration engine configured to assimilate, analyze, and calibrate real time information from the locomotives and from draft gears and couplers interconnecting the locomotives and non-powered rail cars with determinations made by the independent virtual in-train forces modeling engine onboard the respective locomotive, with the plurality of locomotives of the train being configured to operate collectively and coordinate their own acceleration values based on a common goal of minimizing in-train forces without being dependent on command and control signals from a lead locomotive or central command.

A train control system minimizes in-train forces in a train with a hybrid consist including a diesel-electric locomotive and a battery electric locomotive. The train control system includes a virtual in-train forces modeling engine configured to simulate in-train forces and train operational characteristics using physics-based equations, kinematic or dynamic modeling of behavior of the train or components of the train when the train is accelerating, and inputs derived from stored historical contextual data characteristic of the train, and a virtual in-train forces model database configured to store in-train forces models. Each of the in-train forces models includes a mapping between combinations of the stored historical contextual data and corresponding simulated in-train forces and train operational characteristics that occur when the consist is changing speed. An energy management system determines an easing function of tractive effort vs. time that will minimize the in-train forces created by changes in tractive effort responsive to power notch changes in a diesel-electric locomotive, and commands execution of the easing function by a battery electric locomotive based at least in part on an in-train forces model with simulated in-train forces and train operational characteristics that fall within a predetermined acceptable range of values.

A data transmitting device includes: a transmitter; a processor; and a memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations. The operations include: performing beam forming processing with a terminal provided in at least one moving object; detecting a beam angle based on a result of the beam forming processing; estimating a position of the at least one moving object based on the beam angle and installation position information of the data transmitting device; determining whether the estimated position of the at least one moving object is within a communication area of the data transmitting device; and transmitting desired data to the at least one moving object through the transmitter if it is determined to be within the communication area.

In a rail system with a rail and mobile parts movable along the rail, e.g., rail vehicles, a profiled part is arranged on the rail and includes a cavity, which, e.g., terminates at an opening into the environment. Regions of a mobile part, e.g., regions of each mobile part, at least partially project into the cavity, and at least one transmitter and receiver are situated in the respective region.