B61L2205/04

HIGH-INTEGRITY OBJECT DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD
20210146978 · 2021-05-20 ·

A method and system include receiving positioning and motion information from one or more positioning and motion devices on a vehicle on a guideway, based on the positioning and motion information, receiving information from a database on the vehicle, the information comprising track geometry information and infrastructure information corresponding to the guideway, using the track geometry information and positioning and motion information to determine a path of the guideway and a trajectory of the vehicle along the path, receiving data from one or more electromagnetic sensors on the vehicle, and detecting an object by using the trajectory, the infrastructure information, and the information from the one or more electromagnetic sensors.

System and method for providing information to an information system in a vehicle
10994759 · 2021-05-04 · ·

The invention pertains to a system for providing information to an information system in a vehicle, comprising: a communication interface (210) to communicate with a server (299) residing outside the vehicle (200); data storage means (220) to temporarily store data received from the server via the communication interface; data gathering means (230) to obtain information about a current situation or event independently of the server; an information system (100) to provide information services to crew and/or passengers or to control systems of the vehicle; and a processor (240). The processor is configured to: detect whether the communication interface is operational, if the communication interface is operational, provide data received from the communication interface to the information system; otherwise, provide data retrieved from the data storage means and adapted on the basis of information obtained from the data gathering means to the information system.

METHOD FOR SAFELY AND AUTONOMOUSLY DETERMINING THE POSITION INFORMATION OF A TRAIN ON A TRACK
20210094595 · 2021-04-01 ·

A method for safely determining a position information of a train on a track includes an on-board system determining appearance characteristics, current distances relative to the train and current angular positions relative to the train of passive trackside structures with a first sensor arrangement of a first localization stage of the on-board system. The on-board system stores a map data base in which georeferenced locations and appearance characteristics of the passive trackside structures are registered. A first position information about the train is derived from a comparison of determined current distances and current angular positions and the registered locations of allocated passive trackside structures by the first localization stage. A second position information about the train is derived from satellite signals determined by a second sensor arrangement of a second localization stage. The first and second position information undergo a data fusion resulting in a consolidated position information.

System and method for detection of defects in an electric conductor system of a train

A method and system for identification of obstacles near railways and for providing alarm to an operator of a train if obstacles constitute threat to the train are disclosed. The system comprise IR sensor disposed at the front of the train facing the direction of travel. The IR sensor receives images of the rails in front of the train. The system comprises pre-stored vibration profile of the train's engine that is used to eliminate influence of the engine's vibrations on the accuracy of the received images. Presence of rails in the received frames is detected based on inherent differences of temperature between the rails and the substrate in the rails' background, such as the railway sleepers and the materials underneath it. The system may detect defects in an electric conductor system of a train.

SAFE AND RELIABLE METHOD, DEVICE, AND SYSTEM FOR REAL-TIME SPEED MEASUREMENT AND CONTINUOUS POSITIONING

A method, a device and a system for safely and reliably performing real-time speed measurement and continuous positioning are provided. With the method, inertial navigation data from an inertial navigation signal source arranged in a train is detected, and correction data from a correction signal source is detected. In a case that no correction data is detected, a current speed and a current position of the train is determined based on the inertial navigation data, and in a case that the correction data is detected, the inertial navigation data is corrected with the correction data, and a current speed and position of the train are determined based on the corrected inertial navigation data. Therefore, even in the case that no correction data is detected, the real-time speed measurement and continuous positioning can be performed safely and reliably based on the inertial navigation data.

Vehicle control system

A system includes a locator device and one or more processors operably connected to the locator device. The locator device determines a trailing distance between a trailing vehicle system that travels along a route and a leading vehicle system that travels along the route ahead of the trailing vehicle system in a same direction of travel. The one or more processors compare the trailing distance to a first proximity distance relative to the leading vehicle system. In response to the trailing distance being less than the first proximity distance, the one or more processors set a permitted power output limit for the trailing vehicle system to be less than a maximum achievable power output for the trailing vehicle system, the permitted power output limit being set based on a power-to-weight ratio of the leading vehicle system.

Railway cyber security systems

A system for providing security to a railway system, the system comprising: a data monitoring and processing hub; a network comprising a plurality of data collection agents synchronized to a same network clock and configured to monitor railway infrastructure devices and onboard devices of rolling stock having a train communication network (TCN), train to wayside communications (such as GSM-R) and forward monitored data to the hub for processing by the hub to detect anomalies in railway operation that are indicative of a cyber-attack; wherein an agent of the plurality of data collection agents monitoring an onboard device connected to the TCN of a given rolling stock receives signals propagated to or from the device via the TCN and forwards to the hub data based on a given received signal together with a time stamp comprising a network clock time at which the given received signal is received by the agent.

IMAGE-BASED MONITORING AND DETECTION OF TRACK/RAIL FAULTS

A system and method for monitoring a track and/or rail employs one or more distance measuring imagers mounted to a railcar and directed to image the track and/or rails wherein the images are geo-tagged with location data. Geo-tagged distance measurements are processed to determine at least track gauge and/or at least rail fastener integrity. The system and method may also determine other track and/or rail integrity issues including, e.g., rail profile, rail alignment, center point dip, cross level, rail cant, wheel wear, wheel integrity, rail wear, rail defects, and/or rail temperature. The system and method may also determine when inspection and/or maintenance of the track is indicated, and provide selected records of where and/or when such inspection and/or maintenance is indicated.

RAILWAY SAFETY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM AND DEVICE WITH PROPORTIONAL WARNINGS
20210107542 · 2021-04-15 ·

Systems and devices that will notify train system maintenance workers of an approaching vehicle and, conversely, will notify the operators and administrators of train systems of train system maintenance workers within the vicinity of an approaching section of track. Embodiments of the safety systems and methods disclosed herein may use proportional warnings based on the speed or proximity of approaching vehicles as well as the specific location of such approaching vehicles relative to worker positions to help avoid worker warning fatigue.

RAILWAY SAFETY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM AND DEVICE WITH TRACK AND DIRECTION INFORMATION
20210114638 · 2021-04-22 ·

Systems and devices that will notify train system maintenance workers of an approaching vehicle and, conversely, will notify the operators and administrators of train systems of train system maintenance workers within the vicinity of an approaching section of track. Embodiments of the safety systems and methods disclosed herein may use track and direction information and/or LiDAR to assist in determining vehicle positioning and/or speed particularly where there are two or more possible tracks or vehicle paths in close proximity to each other.