The present disclosure generally relates to work block encroachment warning systems for providing protection for rail workers working in a mobile or fixed work block. For example, a vehicle (V)-aware unit installed on a moving rail vehicle and a work block limit encroachment unit mounted on a railroad may wirelessly communicate with each other to determine a distance between them. When a vehicle is moving toward an occupied work block, the distance may be used to identify potential hazards.

A method and a control device determine a position-related braking ability of a vehicle. A first vehicle determines at least one piece of position-related information of a route section, the at least one piece of position-related information of the route section being information relating to the braking ability on the route section. The first vehicle transmits the at least one piece of position-related information to a receiver, the receiver being at least one second vehicle, whereby the braking curves of at least one rail vehicle are adapted according to the situation, thus allowing safety on the route section and the utilization of the section to be improved.

The present invention provides an automatic train protection method, a vehicle on-board controller and a train based on vehicle-vehicle communication. The method includes: after a present train runs onto a main track, determining an OC with which the present train needs to establish communication; communicating, by the present train, with the OC to obtain train identifiers of all trains within the jurisdiction of the OC; respectively communicating, by the present train, with the train corresponding to each train identifier to obtain current running information of the train corresponding to each train identifier; identifying a front communication neighbor train of the present train; determining that no hidden train exists between the present train and the front communication neighbor train; and calculating current movement authority MA of the present train according to the current position information of the present train and of the front communication neighbor train.

The present invention provides an automatic train protection method, a vehicle on-board controller and a train based on vehicle-vehicle communication. The method includes: after a present train runs onto a main track, determining an OC with which the present train needs to establish communication; communicating, by the present train, with the OC to obtain train identifiers of all trains within the jurisdiction of the OC; respectively communicating, by the present train, with the train corresponding to each train identifier to obtain current running information of the train corresponding to each train identifier; identifying a front communication neighbor train of the present train; determining that no hidden train exists between the present train and the front communication neighbor train; and calculating current movement authority MA of the present train according to the current position information of the present train and of the front communication neighbor train.

A train detection system for a railway track defines a first lateral side and a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side. Two cameras are arranged along the railway track spaced apart from each other. Each camera is placed on either the first lateral side or the second lateral side. The system includes at least one passive target. Each of the passive targets is placed within the field of view of at least one of the cameras and on the opposite lateral side of the railway track with respect to the at least one of the cameras in whose field of view the respective passive target is placed. The system also includes at least one controller adapted to recognise the passive target in the images provided by at least one of the cameras to the controller to determine whether a train is located on the railway track.

Provided is a method of operating a modular train system. The method comprises determining that an approaching train is within a trigger distance from a first train segment. The train has a first velocity in a first direction along a track. The method further comprises causing the first train segment to accelerate to approximately the first velocity. The method further comprises coupling the train segment to a front end of the train while the first train segment and the train are in motion at approximately the first velocity.

Provided is a method of operating a modular train system. The method comprises determining that an approaching train is within a trigger distance from a first train segment. The train has a first velocity in a first direction along a track. The method further comprises causing the first train segment to accelerate to approximately the first velocity. The method further comprises coupling the train segment to a front end of the train while the first train segment and the train are in motion at approximately the first velocity.

An example locomotive consist control system includes a locomotive controller located on a locomotive consist to control movement of the locomotive consist along one or more tracks, and a field operator control unit in communication with the locomotive controller. The field operator control unit is configured to control movement of the locomotive consist via the locomotive controller. The system also includes a yard supervisory controller configured to monitor a location of the locomotive consist along the one or more tracks, and a remote operator controller in communication with the yard supervisory controller and the locomotive controller. The remote operator controller is configured to transmit speed and direction orders from the yard supervisory controller to the locomotive controller to control movement of the locomotive consist.

An example locomotive consist control system includes a locomotive controller located on a locomotive consist to control movement of the locomotive consist along one or more tracks, and a field operator control unit in communication with the locomotive controller. The field operator control unit is configured to control movement of the locomotive consist via the locomotive controller. The system also includes a yard supervisory controller configured to monitor a location of the locomotive consist along the one or more tracks, and a remote operator controller in communication with the yard supervisory controller and the locomotive controller. The remote operator controller is configured to transmit speed and direction orders from the yard supervisory controller to the locomotive controller to control movement of the locomotive consist.

A rail vehicle system, a rail vehicle, and a visual sensing device are provided. The rail vehicle system includes a system control device, a rail, and a rail vehicle. The rail vehicle includes a processing device and the visual sensing device. In a process where the rail vehicle travels along the rail, the visual sensing device captures images in front of the rail vehicle, and the visual sensing device emits a laser beam toward a front side of the rail vehicle. The visual sensing device receives the reflected laser beam to generate a laser sensing data. The processing device determines whether or not to change at least one of a travel direction and a travel speed of the rail vehicle according to the images captured by the visual sensing device and the laser sensing data.