Abstract: A crossing gate mechanism includes an enclosure housing multiple components including a control unit configured to operate the crossing gate mechanism and associated crossing gate arm, an electric motor driving a main shaft, the main shaft extending outside the enclosure and the crossing gate arm being coupled to the main shaft, one or more electronic sensor(s) capable of providing angular information, and a processing unit configured to determine positions based on the angular information.

Abstract: State-of-the-art CAD systems provide a static view of a given territory with real-time information. For example, in various abnormal situations, dispatchers might be actively involved in understanding what caused the situation and what happened during the situation, so as to identify and initiate corrective actions for the situation, but current CAD systems often do not actively support dispatchers in these tasks. Thus, addressing abnormal situations can take an unnecessarily long time or be inefficient, which can reduce train throughput or cause train delays, among other negative effects. A system can be configured to generate various adaptive interfaces to dispatchers so that abnormal situations can be efficiently and effectively processed and addressed by the system.

Abstract: A train control system includes an onboard unit configured to be installed in a locomotive of a train, a back office server system, a hazard management system, and a communication network configured to interface with the onboard unit, the back office server system and the hazard management system, wherein the hazard management system is configured to collect and process hazard related information, and wherein the hazard management system is configured to determine vital and non-vital hazard information based on the hazard related information and to communicate the vital and non-vital information to the onboard unit.

Abstract: A system and method in which a user application on a mobile device facilitates hands-free fare validation and gateless entry/exit at a transit facility like a transit station or a transit vehicle. The user application communicates with a Bluetooth gateway to authenticate the device and provides device-specific information for device identification and location determination. The user application also sends a secure token to the gateway to validate an electronic ticket stored in the device. A positioning unit uses the device-specific information to generate a timestamped location data for the device. A camera monitors the device user's movement and generates another timestamped location data for the device. A controller driver compares two timestamped location data to determine that the user of the device is approaching a gateless entry point and allows the user to avail a transit service through the gateless entry point when the electronic ticket is valid and active.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling automatic arming between an End-of-Train device and a Head-of-Train device on a train is provided. The system includes at least one sensing unit configured to detect a physical connection status of the End-of-Train device. The End-of-Train device is configured to transmit an arming request to the Head-of-Train device based on the physical connection status, wherein the arming request includes at least one of an identifier and a geospatial location associated with the End-of-Train device. The Head-of-Train device is configured to receive the arming request from the End-of-Train device. The Head-of-Train device is further configured to arm the Head-of-Train device to the End-of-Train device upon verification of the arming request, wherein arming comprises establishing a communication channel between the Head-of-Train device and the End-of-Train device.

Abstract: A grade crossing control system (400, 600) includes a track circuit with a grade crossing predictor (GCP) system (40), and at least one auxiliary shunting device (420, 430) connected to the rails (20a, 20b) of the railroad track (20), wherein a railroad vehicle travelling on the railroad track (20) causes a change of impedance when entering the track circuit, wherein the at least one auxiliary shunting device (420, 430) detects a presence of the railroad vehicle travelling on the railroad track (20) and generates an auxiliary change of the impedance of the track circuit, and wherein the GCP system (40) generates grade crossing activation signals in response to the change of the impedance or the auxiliary change of the impedance of the track circuit. The auxiliary shunting device is provided to improve reliability in case of poor shunting.

Abstract: A crossing gate including a junction box mounted to a foundation, the junction box housing and terminating electrical wiring, a crossing gate mechanism housing multiple electric and electronic components configured to operate a crossing gate arm coupled to the crossing gate mechanism, and a vertical mast supporting the crossing gate mechanism, wherein the electrical wiring between the junction box and the crossing gate mechanism runs through the vertical mast, wherein a support collar is arranged adjacent to the crossing gate mechanism, and wherein the support collar allows rotation of the crossing gate mechanism while keeping connection points of the electrical wiring in the crossing gate mechanism intact.

Abstract: A method for managing traffic includes, through operation of a processor, receiving traffic network data including sensor data from a plurality of sensors, wherein the traffic network data include vehicle data and infrastructure data within a traffic network, identifying a deviation in a planned traffic network behavior based on the traffic network data and utilizing a defined parameter, wherein the deviation includes a value outside a threshold of the defined parameter, determining a confidence level for the defined parameter and value, wherein the confidence level is calculated by evaluating whether one or more condition(s) associated with the defined parameter and value are true, identifying a causal factor for the deviation, generating actions for the causal factors to correct the deviation, wherein an output includes a list of automated actions and manual actions, and triggering the automated actions.

Abstract: A crossing gate mechanism (300) with a PCB reconfigurable for exit and entrance gate mode, the mechanism including a brake and a brake relay (312) coupled to an electric motor (320), the mechanisms being configured to operate a crossing gate arm of a crossing gate. The mechanism includes a configuration logic circuit (310) connected to the brake relay (312), and a internal power source (316), wherein the configuration logic circuit (310) is configured to operate the brake relay (312) in a entrance gate mode or exit gate mode, wherein the control of the brake relay is inverted in the exit gate mode with respect to the entrance gate mode, and wherein, in the exit mode, the internal power source (316) provides power for operating the brake relay (312).

Abstract: A crossing gate mechanism includes an enclosure housing multiple electric and electronic components including a control unit for operating the crossing gate mechanism and associated crossing gate arm, a cover for opening and closing the enclosure, wherein the cover is moveable between a closed position and an open position, an operating mode switch, wherein a first position of the operating mode switch is associated with a normal operating mode and a second position of the operating mode switch is associated with a maintenance mode, and a status alarm circuit, wherein the status alarm circuit for issuing an alarm when the operating mode switch is in the second position associated with the maintenance mode and the cover is in or moved into the closed position.

Abstract: A system to extend dead reckoning includes multiple input devices including primary input devices and secondary input devices, a location system configured to receive position information from the multiple input devices and to determine a location of a train, vehicle or car, the location system including a calculation module that is configured to, through operation of a processor, receive position information from the primary input devices, receive identification information from the secondary input devices and obtain position information of the secondary input devices based on the received identification information, and determine the location of the train with the position information of the primary input devices or determine the location of the train including dead reckoning with the position information of the secondary input devices when the primary input devices are unavailable or provide insufficient position information.

Abstract: A system for protecting a railroad grade crossing or a railroad track section includes an initiation device located at or in proximity to a grade crossing or track section, the initiation device facilitating a protection signal for the grade crossing or the track section, and an implementation system receiving the protection signal along with location information of the grade crossing or track section and preventing a train from reaching the grade crossing or track section.

Abstract: A combustion seal assembly includes a seal member with a first section and a second section, and a heat shield member, wherein the seal member and the heat shield member are configured to form a combustion seal, and wherein the first section or the second section of the seal member incorporates a holding device to retain the seal member in place with the heat shield member.

Abstract: A crossing gate mechanism comprises an electric brushless direct current (BLDC) motor which has at least one internal sensing device that is used as a closed feedback loop to determine a position of the BLDC motor and accurately control a speed of the BLDC motor, a crossing gate arm operated via the BLDC motor and a digital control system configured to control operation of the BLDC motor, wherein the digital control system is configured to provide a motor control signal that results in a soft start motion and a soft stop motion of the crossing gate arm. The BLDC motor is controlled by a state-machine logic stored within a Field-Programmable Gate Array/a central processing unit such that the state-machine logic finely controls an acceleration and a deceleration of the BLDC motor that provides a relatively smooth operation of the crossing gate arm when it reaches both horizontal and vertical positions.

Abstract: A crossing gate mechanism includes an enclosure housing multiple electric and electronic components with a control unit configured to operate the crossing gate mechanism and associated crossing gate arm, a cover for opening and closing the enclosure, wherein the cover is moveable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the enclosure houses a sensing device, wherein the cover includes a detectable device, and wherein the detectable device is arranged in the cover such that, when the cover is moved into the closed position, the detectable device comes in proximity to the at least one sensing device, and the sensing device is configured to indicate that the cover is in the closed position.

Abstract: A crossing gate mechanism includes a brushless direct current (BLDC) motor with at least one sensing device, a crossing gate arm operated via the BLDC motor, a control unit configured to control the BLDC motor to raise or lower the crossing gate arm in response to a gate control signal, wherein the control unit comprises position and speed proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controllers configured to output a pulse width modulation (PWM) command to a commutator logic, wherein the PWM command is converted to a motor direction and PWM duty cycle, and wherein the PWM duty cycle is variable depending on a motor input voltage.

Abstract: A crossing gate mechanism includes an electric brushless direct current (BLDC) motor with a sensing device, a crossing gate arm operated via the BLDC motor, a motor brake coupled to the BLDC motor, wherein the motor brake is configured to hold the crossing gate arm in a position, and a controller configured to control the BLDC motor, wherein the controller is configured to control the BLDC motor to raise or lower the crossing gate arm in response to a gate control signal, and wherein, when the motor brake fails to hold the crossing gate arm in the position, the controller is configured to control the BLDC motor to hold the crossing gate arm in the position instead of the motor brake.

Abstract: A system of auto-calibration is provided in a crossing gate mechanism. The crossing gate mechanism comprises a shaft, a gate arm, a gate-down buffer, a brushless DC (BLDC) motor, a motor speed and position controller, an accelerometer and a hall-sense position counter. The system auto-calibrates the accelerometer and/or the hall-sense position counter when they are in disagreement due to temperature or due to some other phenomenon.

Abstract: A system and a method for preventing collision between a first train and a second train are provided. The system includes at least one first subsystem installed on a first train. The at least one first subsystem is configured to broadcast a message indicative of a status of the first train. The system further includes at least one second subsystem installed on a second train configured to selectively receive the broadcast message from the at least one first subsystem on the first train. The second subsystem determines the status of the first train by analyzing the broadcast message. An action to be performed at the second train for preventing a collision between the first train and the second train is determined based on the status of the first train. One or more instructions are generated for performing the action at the second train.

Abstract: An end of train device (EOT) suitable of use on a railway vehicle includes a mounting unit for installation on a car of a railway vehicle, a position sensor configured to detect vertical alignment and orientation during the installation, and a feedback mechanism configured to provide feedback during the installation with respect to the vertical alignment and orientation. Further, a monitoring and communications system and a method for monitoring mounting integrity of an EOT are described.