A system is provided that may include a first communication controller that may communicate with a vehicle system formed from two or more vehicles. The first communication controller may operate in different modes, including a first mode to control movement of the vehicle system without repeating any control signals communicated between the vehicles, and in a second mode to monitor different frequencies for receipt of the control signals, receive and repeat a first control signal of the control signals at a first frequency, and receive and repeats a second control signal of the control signals at a second frequency. The first communication controller may also operate in a third mode in which the first communication controller may monitor the first frequency but not the second frequency for the first control signal, receives the first control signal at the first frequency, and repeats the first control signal at the first frequency.

A vehicle control system receives a proximity signal at a sensor assembly from a vehicle system. The proximity signal indicates that the vehicle system is approaching a location of the sensor assembly. A sensor of the sensor assembly is activated responsive to receiving the proximity signal. One or more characteristics of the vehicle system are sensed as the vehicle system moves by the sensor assembly. A sensor signal that represents the one or more characteristics of the vehicle system is communicated to an onboard controller of the vehicle system and/or an off-board system to control operation of the vehicle system based on the one or more characteristics of the vehicle system.

A system and method control a powered system having an engine configured to operate using a plurality of fuel types. A first set of control signals including a first set of valve signals are communicated to each fuel tank based at least in part on a first stored engine operating profile to control amounts of fuel provided from each fuel tank to the engine. A different, second set of control signals including a second set of valve signals are communicated to the fuel tanks based at least in part on a second stored engine operating profile to control or change the amounts of fuel from each fuel tank to the engine. The system and method can switch between operating conditions associated with different external domains to alter the engine operating profile used to control the fuel or fuels supplied to the engine.

A train control apparatus includes: a first ground device 22a provided in a first section CZ1; and a second ground device 22b provided in a second section CZ2 continuing from the first section CZ1 in a train travel direction. When a train 10 in the first section CZ1 enters a control transition section ZCR determined using a control section border CZI as a termination end, the first ground device 22a instructs a first vehicle radio set 14r to send a first report signal RR1 to the first ground device 22a in accordance with a first communication condition determined by the first ground device 22a, and instructs a second vehicle radio set 14f to send a second report signal RF2 to the second ground device 22b in accordance with a second communication condition determined by the second ground device 22b. In response to the reception of the second report signal RF2 from the second vehicle radio set 14f, the second ground device 22b instructs the second vehicle radio set 14f to send a report signal including train location information to the second ground device 22b in accordance with the second communication condition.

A system for determining a location of a rail vehicle based on a radio frequency (RF) signal includes at least one processor programmed or configured to receive an RF signal transmitted by at least one radio transmitter device, where the RF signal includes location data associated with the location of the at least one radio transmitter device, determine a location of the at least one radio transmitter device based on the location data associated with the location of the at least one radio transmitter included in the RF signal, and determine a location of a rail vehicle based on the location of the at least one radio transmitter device. A method and computer program product are also disclosed.

A system for vehicle management includes a control signal interface subsystem and a vehicle-mounted subsystem. Each of these subsystems includes an ultra-wideband (UWB) communications component. The subsystems communicate with each other through the UWB components. The vehicle mounted subsystem interfaces with a braking system of the vehicle. The vehicle mounted subsystem determines the distance between it and the control signal interface subsystem based on the time-of-flight of at least one communication between the subsystems. The vehicle-mounted subsystem can cause the braking system of the vehicle to activate if the distance between the vehicle-mounted subsystem and the control signal interface subsystem is less than a threshold.

A system and method are provided for determining a position of a vehicle traversing a constrained path via cooperating communications equipment installed at fixed points along a known route and onboard the vehicle. The disclosed schemes leverage certain commonly-installed communications nodes to provide positioning information for participating vehicles when those vehicles are specifically limited in their movement to a particular path, including a train track. Signal analysis between cooperating nodes provides localization information, including timing information, that is sufficient, given the physical constraints of the participating vehicles to a particular track, lane or the like, to quickly resolve a positional localization for the vehicles. Common wireless transceiver connectivity is used to support a backup position locating system that has an appropriate fidelity to provide a required modicum of safety without stopping movement of all vehicles in a vicinity of a particular location with which other communications may have broken down.

A wireless terminal configured for use in a mobile vehicle comprises a transmitter (64), a receiver (66), and processor circuitry (42). The transmitter (64) is configured to transmit a series (50) of vehicle data messages (52) over a vehicle (V2X) communication radio interface (15). The receiver (66) is configured to receive a message (56) from a stationary infrastructure unit (36) over the vehicle (V2X) communication radio interface (15). The processor circuitry (42) is configured to: generate the vehicle data messages of the series (50); set a default transmission rate for transmission of at least some of the vehicle data messages of the series; make a determination regarding content of the message received from the stationary infrastructure unit (36); and thereafter in accordance with the determination, set a modified transmission rate for transmission of at least another vehicle data message of the series and thereby modify utilization of the vehicle (V2X) communication radio interface (15).

A system is provided that include at least one positioning system that can detect a location or position of a vehicle or a portion of a vehicle group that includes the vehicle, at least one sensor positioned on or associated with the vehicle that can generate sensor data of a determined parameter or condition, and a controller in communication with the sensor and the positioning system. The controller can determine that a hazard event has occurred based at least partially on sensor data, and can communicate a hazard event notification based at least in part on the location data and the sensor data to a remote server.

A course control device includes: an information acquisition unit to acquire information via any of wireless devices arranged along a track from a first station to a second station; and a course control unit to control the course of a course control target train based on the information acquired by the information acquisition unit. The course control unit prevents the course control target train from proceeding to the course in at least one of a case where at least one of the wireless devices is in a failure state, a case where an on-board device that is mounted in a preceding train preceding the course control target train on the track and controls the preceding train based on information acquired via the wireless devices is in a failure state, and a case where the preceding train is in a stationary state between the first station and the second station.