Abstract: Operation of a vehicle system may be controlled by identifying a location of the vehicle system and a confidence measurement of the location that is identified, selecting an operational mode of the vehicle system from among a more restrictive operational mode and a less restrictive operational mode based on the confidence measurement of the location that is identified, and controlling movement of the vehicle system within different limits based on which of the more restrictive operational mode or the less restrictive operational mode that is selected.

Abstract: A system is provided to initialize a vehicle for movement under or with the protection of a vehicle control system. The system may determine a sensed location of a vehicle based off one or more location signals received from an off-board source, and calculate a location of the vehicle responsive to the vehicle moving into a blocking structure where the vehicle does not determine the sensed location of the vehicle based off the one or more location signals. The calculated location of the vehicle may be calculated using one or more sensor outputs. A route is selected from among several routes within the blocking structure based on the calculated location. The selected route is communicated to a back-office system, and movement of the vehicle is controlled using one or more control signals received from the back-office system that are based on the route that is selected.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method is provided that may include obtaining image data from vision sensors disposed onboard a vehicle. The method may include determining a stopping distance of the vehicle based at least in part on the image data using an artificial intelligence (AI) neural network having artificial neurons arranged in layers and connected with each other by connections. A moving speed and a speed limit of the vehicle may be determined using the AI neural network. The method may control movement of the vehicle using the AI neural network by enforcing movement authorities preventing unwarranted movement of the vehicle based on a difference between the moving speed and the speed limit. The method may include receiving feedback regarding the stopping distance and the speed limit calculated by the artificial neurons and training the AI neural network by changing connections between the artificial neurons based on the feedback received.

Abstract: A system is provided that may include a controller having one or more processors. The one or more processors may control movement of a vehicle system along a route, and determine a restriction in speed of the vehicle system at a switch point. The one or more processors may determine a direction of movement of the vehicle system based on the restriction in the speed at the switch point.

Abstract: Methods and systems for managing a speed of a vehicle are provided. The methods and systems obtain image data from one or more vision sensors disposed onboard a vehicle. A stopping distance of the vehicle is determined based at least in part on the image data. A moving speed of the vehicle and a speed limit of the vehicle are determined. The speed limit is determined based on the stopping distance that is determined from the image data. The methods and systems control movement of the vehicle based on a difference between the moving speed of the vehicle and the speed limit of the vehicle.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A vehicle control system and method display a map within a designated viewing area of a display device. The map provides information on a location of a vehicle and restrictions on vehicle movement. Prompts for response from a vehicle operator are displayed with the map. The prompts are based on the vehicle location and/or the movement restrictions. The are displayed on the vehicle display device but outside of the designated viewing area of the vehicle display device. Operator input is received in response to the one or more prompts to verify that the vehicle is moving according to the one or more restrictions on the movement of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method is provided that may include obtaining image data related to a route from a imaging device associated with a vehicle. The method may also include determining an environmental condition based on the image data, and operating the vehicle or communicating an alert signal based on the environmental condition that is determined.

Abstract: A method is provided that may include obtaining image data related to a route from a imaging device associated with a vehicle, determining a geometric pattern related to the route based on the image data, and identifying the geometric pattern determined within a route database to determine the route of the vehicle.

Abstract: A system includes one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to receive image information from an vision sensor disposed on a vehicle, determine timing information indicating a time at which the image information was obtained, determine an orientation of the vehicle using the timing information, and control the vehicle based on the orientation that is determined.

Abstract: Methods and systems for managing a speed of a vehicle are provided. The methods and systems obtain image data from one or more vision sensors disposed onboard a vehicle. A stopping distance of the vehicle is determined based at least in part on the image data. A moving speed of the vehicle and a speed limit of the vehicle are determined. The speed limit is determined based on the stopping distance that is determined from the image data. The methods and systems control movement of the vehicle based on a difference between the moving speed of the vehicle and the speed limit of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle control system and method display a map within a designated viewing area of a display device. The map provides information on a location of a vehicle and restrictions on vehicle movement. Prompts for response from a vehicle operator are displayed with the map. The prompts are based on the vehicle location and/or the movement restrictions. The are displayed on the vehicle display device but outside of the designated viewing area of the vehicle display device. Operator input is received in response to the one or more prompts to verify that the vehicle is moving according to the one or more restrictions on the movement of the vehicle.

Abstract: An optical ring network has one or more working wavelengths and multiple protection wavelengths adapted to support the working wavelength(s). Routing tables may be used in network nodes to assign traffic of a failed working wavelength to a protection wavelength. The protection technique may be applied to networks employing, for example, Dense Wave Division Multiplexing (DWDM).