Examples relate to digital context aware (DCA) data collection. In some examples, a DCA start location component is positioned at a first location along a travel route, and a DCA end location component is positioned at a second location along the travel route. In response to using a wireless interface to detect the DCA start location component, data collection of measurements by a sensor are initiated. In response to using the wireless interface to detect the DCA end location component, the data collection by the sensor is halted.

Systems and methods are provided for decentralized rail signaling and positive train control. A decentralized train control system may include a plurality of wayside units, configured for placement on or near tracks in a railway network, and one or more train-mounted units, each configured for use in a train operating in a railway network that support use of the decentralized train control system. Each train-mounted unit may configured to receive communicate with any wayside unit and/or train-mounted unit that comes within range, with the communicating including use of ultra-wideband (UWB) signals, and for generating control information based on the UWB signals, for use in controlling one or more functions associated with operation of the train.

An onboard control device includes an obtaining unit to obtain information from a wayside coil, for identifying a location of the wayside coil, and a control unit to correct train location information, or not, on a basis of correction permission information, the permission information being associated with the wayside coil and including information that indicates whether correction to the train location information is permissible. When the permission information indicates that the correction is permissible, the control unit corrects the train location information by using the wayside coil information at the time when the onboard pickup coil has passed through the wayside coil, and when the permission information indicates that the correction is not permissible, the control unit does not correct the train location information at the time when the onboard pickup coil has passed through the wayside coil.

A method and a system for transmitting an enforceable instruction in a vehicle control system may include receiving a checksum contained in at least one enforceable instruction. Methods for checksum challenge mitigation in a vehicle control system and verifying enforceable instruction data on-board a vehicle are disclosed.

According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of systems and methods for safety locking of operator control units for remote control locomotives. In an exemplary embodiment, a system includes a machine control unit located on a locomotive to control operation of the locomotive, a primary operator control unit including a primary network interface configured to transmit received input commands to the machine control unit to control motion of the locomotive, and a secondary operation control unit including a secondary network interface and a secondary input interface. The secondary operator control unit is configured to operate in a secondary role that does not include motion control of the locomotive, and the secondary operator control unit is configured to transmit a lock command to the machine control unit to inhibit movement of the locomotive in response to receiving a lock command input at the secondary input interface.

A method includes obtaining one or more images of a segment of a route from a camera while a vehicle is moving along the route. The segment of the route includes one or more guide lanes. The method also includes comparing, with one or more computer processors, the one or more images of the segment of the route with a benchmark visual profile of the route based at least in part on an overlay of the one or more images onto the benchmark visual profile or an overlay of the benchmark visual profile onto the one or more images. The one or more processors identify a misaligned segment of the route based on one or more differences between the one or more images and the benchmark visual profile and respond to the identification of the misaligned segment of the route by modifying an operating parameter of the vehicle.

A method and an apparatus for a train control installation are disclosed, and are based on the absolute permissive block concept. The train control installation employs a plurality of generic absolute block signal units (ABSU), wherein each signal unit includes means for detecting the crossing of a train passed a discrete point, means for exchanging data with adjacent ABSUs, means for generating and communicating a movement authority limit to a train, means for generating and displaying a signal indication, and means for enforcing a stop aspect. The train control installation can be used in conjunction with a communication based train control (CBTC) system to provide a degraded mode of operation without impacting the availability and the reliability of the CBTC system. Further, the train control installation has a self-healing feature to maintain train service during an ABSU failure.

A system includes one or more processors configured to communicatively link a first operator control unit (OCU) disposed off-board a vehicle system with a vehicle control system (VCS) disposed onboard the vehicle system. The vehicle system is formed from first and second vehicles. The VCS is configured to remotely control movement of the second vehicle from the first vehicle, wherein the one or more processors configured to receive a control signal communicated from the first OCU to a communication device that is onboard the first vehicle. The control signal dictates a change in movement operational setting of the second vehicle. The one or more processors configured to direct the communication device to communicate the control signal from the first vehicle to the second vehicle via the VCS, wherein movement of the second vehicle is automatically changed responsive to communicating the control signal from the first vehicle to the second vehicle.

An information transmission system includes a ground system provided to a track and an onboard system installed in a train. The ground system includes two (M=2) track antennae selected from N types of track antennae with different resonance frequencies. The two track antennae are arranged side by side in a left and right direction relative to a traveling direction of the train. When the train passes through a position where the ground system is provided, the onboard system detects the two track antennae at once and can determine the resonance frequencies of the track antennae.

Exemplary embodiments are disclosed of systems and methods for remotely controlling locomotives with gestures. In an exemplary embodiment, a system is configured for allowing an operator(s) to remotely control operation of a locomotive with gesture(s) made by an operator(s). The system includes at least one processor configured to be operable for visually recognizing gesture(s) made by an operator(s) in one or more images captured by at least one camera. A locomotive control unit is configured to be operable for controlling the operation of the locomotive according to the visually recognized gesture(s) made by the operator(s).