Abstract: An apparatus for determining the rotation of a wheel truck on a rail vehicle and further for determining the relative direction of motion of said truck with respect to said rail vehicle and further for determining the rate at which the truck moves with respect to the rail vehicle is disclosed, which is a low power radar sensor disposed underneath the rail vehicle and directed toward the truck. In a Preferred embodiment, two sensors are shown which are disposed on opposite sides of the rail vehicle. The sensors are coupled with an onboard computing device and with other components of a train control system which can be used for precisely locating the train on closely spaced parallel tracks and further for updating and augmenting position information used by the train control system. The system including GPS receivers and wheel tachometers for providing alternate sources of information for position determination.

Abstract: An intra-train communication system includes a locomotive control unit (LCU) establishes a communications link between a lead unit and a remote unit which operate using different protocols and/or in different frequency bands. To accomplish this objective, the LCU automatically detects the type of lead unit and remote unit installed on the train. If the types are not the same, the LCU resolves any serial link protocol and arming differences that might exist in a manner virtually transparent to train operators. As a result, data is communicated between the lead and remote units in a way which requires less operator intervention and no software changes to the control computer of the head unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing warning lamps on the side of railcars where the lamps are powered by and receive information from a power line extending across numerous cars of the train and where the power line also provides power and information to the electronic air brakes disposed on the various railcars.

Abstract: An automatic train control system, including a track occupancy detector is disclosed which utilizes an image sensor disposed on the front of a locomotive which scans an image immediately in front of the locomotive and is capable of detecting the presence of the occupied track and any parallel tracks disposed on either side of the occupied track. Image processing is accomplished using a Laplacian edge detection algorithm and a Hough transform line detection algorithm. An on-board computer determines the slope of lines corresponding to rails extending ahead of the locomotive. The lines are grouped into lines having positive and negative slope and the number of lines in each group is determined. Based upon the number of lines having positive and negative slopes, a determination of occupancy is made. The information from the track occupancy detector is provided to other equipment located on the locomotive and used to assist with other advanced train control functions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining railcar order in an ECP equipped train involving the inherent propagation delay of a pneumatic signal propagation in a brake air line as measured by each car and used to determine the car order in the train.