A vehicle control system is provided for controlling adhesion of wheels to a route surface. The control system includes one or more processors configured to determine adhesion values representative of adhesion between the wheels of a vehicle and the route surface based on angular speeds of the wheels. The one or more processors are configured to generate a target slip value for the wheels that are coupled with at least two different axles of the vehicle by processing the adhesion values and modifying the target slip value continuously in time to maximize an average value of the adhesion values of the wheels. The one or more processors also are configured to control a torque applied to at least one of the axles based on the target slip value.

The present invention relates to the field of automated transportation systems. Particularly, it relates to a transportation system comprising guide-ways or tracks, vehicle units [100, 100a] with wheel-axle assembly for switching of vehicles from primary [20] to secondary track [22] on changing trajectory to maintain same vertical plane and the method. It comprises of central controller [101], vehicle chassis with main wheels [2W], guide wheels [4iw, 4ow], guide blocks [05, 06], actuator [09]. The chassis [30] has set of contractible axles fixed to wheels [2W] to enables movement from primary [20] to secondary track [22] by withdrawing the wheels [2W] from expanded position [C] to contracted position [C] or vice-versa. The forces required to compress the spring loaded axle axis is derived from inner guide wheels rolling over the edge flange [26] when swung using single linear motor actuator [09] and related electronic controls.

The present invention relates to the field of automated transportation systems. Particularly, it relates to a transportation system comprising guide-ways or tracks, vehicle units [100, 100a] with wheel-axle assembly for switching of vehicles from primary [20] to secondary track [22] on changing trajectory to maintain same vertical plane and the method. It comprises of central controller [101], vehicle chassis with main wheels [2W], guide wheels [4iw, 4ow], guide blocks [05, 06], actuator [09]. The chassis [30] has set of contractible axles fixed to wheels [2W] to enables movement from primary [20] to secondary track [22] by withdrawing the wheels [2W] from expanded position [C] to contracted position [C] or vice-versa. The forces required to compress the spring loaded axle axis is derived from inner guide wheels rolling over the edge flange [26] when swung using single linear motor actuator [09] and related electronic controls.

Systems for examining a route inject one or more electrical examination signals into a conductive route from onboard a vehicle system traveling along the route, detect one or more electrical characteristics of the route based on the one or more electrical examination signals, and detect a break in conductivity of the route responsive to the one or more electrical characteristics decreasing by more than a designated drop threshold for a time period within a designated drop time period. Feature vectors may be determined for the electrical characteristics and compared to one or more patterns in order to distinguish between breaks in the conductivity of the route and other causes for changes in the electrical characteristics.

Systems for examining a route inject one or more electrical examination signals into a conductive route from onboard a vehicle system traveling along the route, detect one or more electrical characteristics of the route based on the one or more electrical examination signals, and detect a break in conductivity of the route responsive to the one or more electrical characteristics decreasing by more than a designated drop threshold for a time period within a designated drop time period. Feature vectors may be determined for the electrical characteristics and compared to one or more patterns in order to distinguish between breaks in the conductivity of the route and other causes for changes in the electrical characteristics.

An examining system includes one or more application devices onboard a vehicle system. The application devices may electrically conduct an examination signal into one or more conductive bodies extending along a route and may include a catenary, a third rail, and/or a cable. The examining system may include one or more detection units that may be disposed onboard the vehicle system and that may monitor one or more electrical characteristics of the one or more conductive bodies in response to the examination signal being conducted into the one or more conductive bodies. The examining system may include an identification unit that may examine the one or more electrical characteristics of the one or more conductive bodies monitored by the one or more detection units to identify a compromised or damaged section of the one or more conductive bodies.

An examining system includes one or more application devices onboard a vehicle system. The application devices may electrically conduct an examination signal into one or more conductive bodies extending along a route and may include a catenary, a third rail, and/or a cable. The examining system may include one or more detection units that may be disposed onboard the vehicle system and that may monitor one or more electrical characteristics of the one or more conductive bodies in response to the examination signal being conducted into the one or more conductive bodies. The examining system may include an identification unit that may examine the one or more electrical characteristics of the one or more conductive bodies monitored by the one or more detection units to identify a compromised or damaged section of the one or more conductive bodies.

A charging system for an electric vehicle has an elongate enclosure having a plurality of sides and an at least partially open side. The enclosure defines a hollow interior. The charging system further includes a conductor rail disposed in the hollow interior and that is accessible through the at least partially open side of the enclosure. The conductor rail may be placed in electric communication with an electrical power source and thereby may be selectively placed in electrical communication with an electrical connector of an electric vehicle. The charging system may conduct electric current from the electrical power source to an electric power supply of the electric vehicle.

A route examining system includes first and second detection units and an identification unit. The first and second detection units are configured to be disposed onboard a vehicle system traveling along a route having plural conductive tracks. The first and second detection units are disposed at spaced apart locations along a length of the vehicle system. The first and second detection units are configured to monitor one or more electrical characteristics of the conductive tracks in response to an examination signal being electrically injected into at least one of the conductive tracks. The identification unit includes one or more processors configured to determine that a section of the route includes an electrical short responsive to the one or more electrical characteristics monitored by the first and second detection units indicating that the examination signal is received by only one of the first and second detection units.

A route examining system includes first and second detection units and an identification unit. The first and second detection units are configured to be disposed onboard a vehicle system traveling along a route having plural conductive tracks. The first and second detection units are disposed at spaced apart locations along a length of the vehicle system. The first and second detection units are configured to monitor one or more electrical characteristics of the conductive tracks in response to an examination signal being electrically injected into at least one of the conductive tracks. The identification unit includes one or more processors configured to determine that a section of the route includes an electrical short responsive to the one or more electrical characteristics monitored by the first and second detection units indicating that the examination signal is received by only one of the first and second detection units.