Systems and methods are provided for worker protection system with ultra-wideband (UWB) based anchors. One or more wayside units placed on or near a track may be configured to form a work zone network, based on ultra-wideband (UWB) communications, corresponding to a work zone in an area surrounding or in proximity to the one or more wayside units. When the work zone network is formed, at least one wayside unit of the one or more wayside units may be configured to obtain ranging information to a train traversing the track, based on communications of UWB signals with at least one train-mounted unit deployed on the train, and the one or more wayside units are configured to generate, based on the ranging information, notifications relating to the train and/or the work zone.

Described herein are techniques for determining motion characteristics of trains traveling along a train track. In some embodiments, a processor may determine an estimated position of a train using an observed position obtained using one or more UWB antennas and an observed position obtained using one or more GNSS receivers. In some embodiments, a processor may access information specifying a geometry of a train track and determining the position of a train along the train track using an observed position determined using one or more UWB antennas and/or GNSS receiver(s) and the information specifying the geometry of the train track. In some embodiments, a processor may determine estimated positions of a train using the geometry of the train track and at least one observation of the train obtained using one or more positioning devices and select the position of the train from among the estimated positions.

A diagnostic inspection system for inspecting railway components which can be mounted on a railway vehicle designed to travel on a railway track, said diagnostic inspection system being designed to perform a diagnostic inspection of a railway component during movement on the railway track, said diagnostic inspection system comprising: one single mechanical structure (10) which can be fixed below the body of a railway vehicle; first optical units (13) positioned on said mechanical structure (10) for a first rail (11); second optical units (14) positioned on said mechanical structure (10) for a second rail (12); each of said optical units (13, 14) comprises: a matrix camera (20) associated with an infrared laser (21), and a linear camera (22) associated with a white laser (RGB) (23); said white laser (RGB) (23) comprises: three laser sources capable of emitting the three primary colours; three dichroic mirrors able to sum the components of said three laser sources in one single point; a Powell lens to generate a white light line; said first optical units (13) comprise a first left-hand optical unit positioned externally to said first rail (11) and inclined to frame the outer side of said first rail (11), a first central optical unit positioned perpendicular above said first rail (11) and a first right-hand optical unit positioned externally to said first rail (11) and inclined to frame the inner side of said first rail (11); said second optical units (14) comprise a second left-hand optical unit positioned internally to said second rail (12) and inclined to frame the inner side of said second rail (12), a second central optical unit positioned perpendicular above said second rail (12) and a second right-hand optical unit positioned externally to said second rail (12) and inclined to frame the outer side of said second rail (12); said mechanical structure (10) is a bar having a length greater than the distance between said first rail (11) and said second rail (12).

A system and method for simulating positive train control (PTC) systems in a local and controlled environment using software and hardware. The system can simulate various functionalities of the PTC system in the environment using software and hardware components. The system can instruct the software of a train management computer (TMC) to control electromechanical valves to simulate air compression on brake pipes in response to the PTC system executing a penalty on the locomotive. The system can display statuses of various systems on the locomotive to a user using a cab display unit (CDU). The system can control the software and hardware components to simulate warnings and actions from the PTC system allowing locomotive engineers and conductors to experience the PTC system for optimum training.

Railyard management system for managing, assembling, disassembling and validating train consists and monitoring railcars in the railyard. The system provides for the collection of data and the movement of data from lower processing levels to higher processing levels, where an inference engine draws inferences regarding the current state of railcars and train consists within the railyard. The inferences can be based on characteristics of a transmission signal received at their respective railcars, said railcars forming a train consist. The system can be used to track the location and orientation of railcars in the railyard and to validate order and orientation of assets in a train consist based on the characteristics of the transmission signal at said railcars.

A method for operating a rail vehicle network, in which a plurality of rail vehicles travel. The rail vehicles determine their respective position in the rail vehicle network by forming position information. Each of the rail vehicles transmits its position information to a route-side central unit, and the central unit forwards the received position information to all rail vehicles in the rail vehicle network. The rail vehicles each have their own collision monitoring unit, which checks the received position information for a possible risk of a collision with one or more of the other rail vehicles, and generates a collision warning signal in the event that a collision risk is established.

The disclosure relates to a light train control system applied to oversea freight railways. The system integrates automatic block, station turnout control and train operation overspeed protection control and comprises an on-board subsystem, an RBC subsystem and a satellite positioning differential base station management subsystem, wherein the on-board subsystem is respectively connected to the RBC subsystem and the satellite positioning differential base station management subsystem. The light train control system adopts two-way continuous train-ground wireless communication and uses on-board signals as main signals of train operation to control the train operation; meanwhile, the system monitors the train operation, so as to provide an alarm to a driver when the situation changes, and to brake a train when necessary; and the system uses an electronic map to manage line data of a whole line, achieves dynamic configuration of the transport capacity by means of a virtual block technology, and remotely controls basic signaling equipment by means of an RBC. Compared with the prior art, the disclosure has the advantages of efficient system operation and simplified trackside equipment.

A system and method for automating railroad maintenance for a tie gang using electronic tie marking (ETM) configured to optimize railroad asset maintenance. The system enables the automating of an adaptive maintenance process for the asset that is being maintainanced. The system can identify a railroad asset scheduled for maintenance using various forms of inspection including real-time kinematic (RTK)-corrected GPS data, radar signal processing data, and real-time imaging. The system also provides for the acquisition and upload of asset pictures for verification and analysis of a railroad asset. The system can identify a next location to perform maintenance and can calculate an optimum path based on sensor input incorporating machine-specific and environmental characteristics. The system further can provide a customizable user interface to identify, track, and process information related to maintenance of the railroad asset.

A system and method for automating railroad maintenance by a tie gang using electronic tie marking (ETM) configured to optimize railroad asset maintenance. The system enables collision avoidance between members of the tie gang performing maintenance on railway assets (e.g., Rails, Ties, Ballasts, Turnouts, Crossings, etc.). The system can generate production numbers for the railway assets and evaluate an asset queue for the tie gang to perform maintenance. The system can utilize real-time updates from the tie gang to optimize work output. The system can provide a customizable user interface to identify, track, and process information related to maintenance of the railroad asset. The system also provides for a heads-up-display (HUD) to notify an operator of relevant information, such as maintenance information, travel indicators, and updated asset queue. The system can identify a next location and calculate an optimum path based on sensor input incorporating machine-specific and environmental characteristics.

A vehicle location and control system determines a signal-derived separation distance between antennas disposed onboard a vehicle based on signals received by the antennas from an off-board source. The system determines an input-derived separation distance between the antennas based on input offset distances of the antennas from a designated location on the vehicle, determines a difference between the input-derived separation distance and the signal-derived separation distance, and activates or deactivates an automated route identification system that determines which route of several different routes that the vehicle is disposed upon based on the difference that is determined.