The object of the present invention is to provide a system for operating a marshalling yard in a more efficient and time saving way, by avoiding unnecessary procedures of preparation, usually done manually by mechanical means only, and turn it into an advanced technological facility.

A permanent magnet retarder comprises a housing and a cylinder. The cylinder (2) is inserted into the housing (1) and can move up and down relative to the housing (1). The housing (1) is further provided with a conductor (3) and a permanent magnet (4) therein which are disposed oppositely and constitute a permanent magnet eddy current deceleration assembly. The conductor (3) is fixedly disposed on an inner wall of the housing (1) and the permanent magnet (4) is fixedly disposed on the cylinder (2); alternatively, the conductor (3) is fixedly disposed on the cylinder (2) and the permanent magnet (4) is fixedly disposed on the inner wall of the housing (1). The housing (1) is further provided with an upper return permanent magnet (5) and a lower return permanent magnet (6) therein disposed oppositely.

Exemplary embodiments are disclosed of apparatus and methods for monitoring and controlling distributed machines. In an exemplary embodiment, a network includes machines each having sensor(s) and/or actuator(s). Each machine has a node resident on the machine and/or in communication with the machine and that provides raw data from the sensor(s) and/or actuator(s). Each node has a network interface, and a processor and memory configured as a node agent to embed the raw data in message(s) without reformatting the raw data. An engine receives and reformats messages from the node agents without reformatting raw data embedded in the messages. The engine directs the reformatted messages including the raw data to user device(s) for use in managing machine activity and/or status. The engine also sends a message from a user device to a node of a given machine, for use in controlling activity and/or status of the given machine.

A method for controlling vehicle parking, includes: obtaining, by a processor, a current vehicle speed and a current vehicle control level of a vehicle; obtaining, by the processor, a target vehicle speed of the vehicle, and obtaining a target vehicle control level of the vehicle according to the current vehicle control level; obtaining, by the processor, a first vehicle control level according to the current vehicle speed, the target vehicle speed, the current vehicle control level, and the target vehicle control level; and controlling, by the processor, the vehicle to run according to the first vehicle control level.

A method for controlling vehicle parking, includes: obtaining, by a processor, a current vehicle speed and a current vehicle control level of a vehicle; obtaining, by the processor, a target vehicle speed of the vehicle, and obtaining a target vehicle control level of the vehicle according to the current vehicle control level; obtaining, by the processor, a first vehicle control level according to the current vehicle speed, the target vehicle speed, the current vehicle control level, and the target vehicle control level; and controlling, by the processor, the vehicle to run according to the first vehicle control level.

Exemplary embodiments are disclosed of apparatus and methods for monitoring and controlling distributed machines. In an exemplary embodiment, a network includes machines each having sensor(s) and/or actuator(s). Each machine has a node resident on the machine and/or in communication with the machine and that provides raw data from the sensor(s) and/or actuator(s). Each node has a network interface, and a processor and memory configured as a node agent to embed the raw data in message(s) without reformatting the raw data. An engine receives and reformats messages from the node agents without reformatting raw data embedded in the messages. The engine directs the reformatted messages including the raw data to user device(s) for use in managing machine activity and/or status. The engine also sends a message from a user device to a node of a given machine, for use in controlling activity and/or status of the given machine.

A solution for monitoring an area including one or more restricted zones is provided. The solution can include one or more monitoring assemblies deployed to acquire image data of the area and independently monitor operations within the area at each monitoring assembly. A monitoring assembly can include one or more local alert components to generate an audible or visual alarm to local personnel. Data regarding static features present in the area can be used to create a registration map of the field of view, which can subsequently enable accurate determination of the three-dimensional location of a target using two-dimensional image data and/or identify an extent of a restricted zone even when one or more of the static features are obscured. Monitoring a target over a series of images can be used to determine whether an alert condition is present.

A solution for monitoring an area including one or more restricted zones is provided. The solution can include one or more monitoring assemblies deployed to acquire image data of the area and independently monitor operations within the area at each monitoring assembly. A monitoring assembly can include one or more local alert components to generate an audible or visual alarm to local personnel. Data regarding static features present in the area can be used to create a registration map of the field of view, which can subsequently enable accurate determination of the three-dimensional location of a target using two-dimensional image data and/or identify an extent of a restricted zone even when one or more of the static features are obscured. Monitoring a target over a series of images can be used to determine whether an alert condition is present.

A railroad car location, speed and heading sensor system including at least one self-powered, tie-mounted sensor node that is applicable universally to different railroad settings without using track circuits, inductive loops, radar systems, and wheel counters and associated disadvantages. Reliable and relatively low cost deterministic and redundant car presence detection is realized when multiple sensor nodes are arranged in a network, which may be a wireless mesh network, that is not affected by environmental conditions.

A railroad car location, speed and heading sensor system including at least one self-powered, tie-mounted sensor node that is applicable universally to different railroad settings without using track circuits, inductive loops, radar systems, and wheel counters and associated disadvantages. Reliable and relatively low cost deterministic and redundant car presence detection is realized when multiple sensor nodes are arranged in a network, which may be a wireless mesh network, that is not affected by environmental conditions.