Abstract: A dynamic simulation test platform for ultra-high-speed evacuated tube magnetic levitation (maglev) transportation includes an evacuated tube having a transition section and a vacuum section, a vacuum maintaining system, a motor supporting platform, and a model train. One end of the evacuated tube is provided with a first isolation door, and the other end is closed. A second isolation door is provided inside the evacuated tube. The vacuum maintaining system is connected to the transition section and the vacuum section. The motor supporting platform is provided in the evacuated tube and extends outside the transition section. The motor supporting platform is provided with a stator winding and a permanent-magnet track. A mover and a cryogenic dewar are provided at a bottom of the model train. The cryogenic dewar is provided with a superconducting bulk. A test method using the test platform is further provided.

Abstract: A rail vehicle car for transporting passengers comprising a car body, a car body floor, a car body ceiling and a front end area. An A-pillar is disposed in the front portion. The car body has a longitudinal extent and a transverse extent, and the longitudinal extent is greater than the transverse extent. The car body includes a height extension transverse to the longitudinal and transverse extensions. The A-pillar is substantially centered in the transverse direction so that the front region is divided into a first side and a second side, and the first side comprises 30-70% of the transverse extent.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a method for controlling a level crossing having barriers and signals comprising establishing a duration of a level crossing closure based at least in part on first signals caused by a first ultrasonic wave conducted in a first rail running over the level crossing and second signals caused by an ultrasonic wave conducted in a second rail running over the level crossing.

Abstract: A transport device includes a carriage that travels along a traveling path that is predetermined; a transfer mechanism provided on the carriage and transfers an article in a transfer space set in the traveling path; a first movable element that is a rod shaped component attached to the carriage, extends in a traveling direction of the carriage, and operates by magnetism to drive the transfer mechanism; and a first stator fixedly disposed with respect to the traveling path, has a partially cutout ring shape, and causes the first movable element to operate by magnetism when part of the carriage is positioned outside the transfer space.

Abstract: A traffic control preemption system monitors an operating state of a railroad crossing, without requiring an interface with railroad crossing equipment, and communicates information to a traffic controller of an adjacent signalized roadway intersection to improve vehicular traffic flow at the railroad crossing. The traffic control preemption system is configured to make real time health assessments of preemption system functionality and provide a degree of redundancy and failsafe operation to the traffic control system.

Abstract: A startup stage protection device used in Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) train coupler experiment is provided between two test cars. The startup stage protection device is arranged between and tightly abuts two test cars at the starting stage of the experiment to receive a compressing force in place of the coupler. The startup stage protection device separates from the two test cars after the end of the starting stage.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for achieving vital ultra-wideband (UWB) based train control. Train-mounted units and wayside units that incorporate at least two separate and independent radios are used to obtain independent and separate ranging measurements in trains based on communications between the train-mounted units and wayside units. The communications includes communication of ultra-wideband (UWB) based signals.

Abstract: A method for route handling of a regional centralized control station is based on a CTC3.0 technology, and includes the following steps: step (1): generating multi-station train and shunting plans according to a multi-station planning terminal, and executing steps (2) and (4) at the same time; step (2): sending the train plan to an autonomous computer to generate a train route sequence, and executing step (3); step (3): sending, by the autonomous computer, the train route sequence to a regional centralized control route handling terminal; step (4): compiling, by the multi-station planning terminal, an automatically generated shunting route sequence in the shunting plan, and executing step (5); and step (5): synchronizing, by a center service, the shunting route sequence to the regional centralized control route handling terminal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sanding system for a rail vehicle with a grit container, with a conveying device and with a feeding device. The grit container contains a grit. The grit passes from the grit container into the conveying device and from the conveying device into the feeding device. The feeding device is configured in such a way that the grit can be introduced in a targeted manner into a wheel region and/or into a rail region of the rail vehicle. The conveying device has a driven conveyor worm which rotates about a longitudinal axis and by way of which the grit passes from the grit container into a conveying chamber. Compressed air can be introduced into the conveying chamber, in order to transport the grit from the conveying chamber into the feeding device.

Abstract: A cold formed center sill configured for extending substantially the length of a railcar, wherein said center sill includes a top wall, a pair of side sections joined to the top wall by a pair of upper curved sections, bottom sections coupled to the side sections through curved connecting sections, wherein the center sill includes an upwardly extending stiffening longitudinal rib centered within the top wall.

Abstract: A positioning and odometry system includes two or more vehicle beacons installed on an end of a vehicle and configured to communicate with one or more guideway beacons installed along a guideway. Processing circuitry is configured to communicate with the one or more vehicle beacons and perform at least one of: determine, before the processing circuitry enters a sleep state, a first vehicle position on the guideway; determine, after the processing circuitry wakes from the sleep state, a second vehicle position on the guideway; determine, after the processing circuitry wakes from the sleep state, any difference between the first vehicle position on the guideway and the second vehicle position on the guideway; determine a third vehicle position on the guideway using range measurements taken at configurable time intervals; and determine a vehicle speed where speed is measured as a change in the third vehicle position over time.

Abstract: A train position estimation device which calculates the position of a vehicle traveling on a predetermined path and comprises a surroundings shape measurement unit that is installed in the vehicle and measures the shape of the surroundings of the current location of the vehicle and a map storage unit for storing surroundings shape data at positions measured in advance, the train position estimation device being characterized by comprising a start position estimation unit for storing the probability of presence of the vehicle at each position; a map retrieval section determination device for outputting surroundings shape data for each position in descending order of presence probability; and a matching processing device that compares the surroundings shape data for the current location with the retrieved surroundings shape data and outputs the position for which the difference therebetween is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A medical suspension bridge includes a cross beam, a suspension pipe and a moving module. The cross beam is connected with the suspension pipe. The moving module is movably connected with the cross beam. The cross beam includes a load-bearing beam. The moving module includes a cable carrier moving plate extending to the upper portion of the load-bearing beam. The medical suspension bridge further includes a cable carrier. One end of the cable carrier is connected to the load-bearing beam, and the other end is connected to the cable carrier moving plate. Since cables such as electric wires and air pipes within a box body which needs to be moved are collectively mounted within the cable carrier, not only the routing is more tidy, but also the cables can be well protected.

Abstract: A device and method for dispensing a friction-coefficient-optimizing mixture of at least one lubricant and at least one grit into the gap between a rail wheel of a rail vehicle and a rail. The device includes a reservoir for the lubricant, a reservoir for the grit, a metering unit for metering the lubricant, a metering unit for metering the grit, a delivery apparatus for delivering the lubricant, a delivery apparatus for delivering the grit, and a common dispensing nozzle. The apparatus for delivering the lubricant and the apparatus for delivering the grit are separate from each other and end in the common dispensing nozzle, the friction-coefficient-optimizing mixture therefore not being formed until the dispensing, and an additional compressed air line is provided, which ends in the common dispensing nozzle.

Abstract: In a local cart traveling system, a frame track includes first and second metal rails each with an L-shaped cross section and facing each other. A local cart is within the frame track, and includes a first electricity receiving tire and a second electricity receiving tire to travel on horizontal travel surfaces of the rails. A voltage supplier supplies an AC voltage to the travel surfaces, so that the first metal rail and a first electricity receiving tire define a first capacitor and the second metal rail and the second electricity receiving tire define a second capacitor. The local cart includes a power receiver to receive AC power, and a travel motor that receives power after the AC power is rectified. The frame track includes a connecting plate as an electrical insulator covering portions of the surfaces of vertical walls of the first metal rail and the second metal rail.

Abstract: A linear transport apparatus includes a transport cart, a first roller that rotates about a first rotation shaft extending from the transport cart along a first direction, a second roller that rotates about a second rotation shaft extending from the transport cart and forming an acute angle with the first rotation shaft, and a rail sandwiched between the first and second rollers to extend along a track on which the transport cart moves. The rail includes a first contact portion coming contact with the first roller and restricting movement of the transport cart in a second direction perpendicular to a direction in which the rail extends and the first direction, and a second contact portion that comes into contact with the second roller and is parallel to the second rotation shaft, and the rail includes a portion in which curvature of the track moves is different from another portion.

Abstract: A rail breakage detection device includes a first core part provided to a first cable connecting an electrical neutral point of an impedance bond that electrically connects a first rail and a second rail to the first rail, a second core part provided to a second cable connecting the electrical neutral point of the impedance bond to the second rail, a first coil wound around the first core part to generate a first electromotive force in accordance with a current variation occurring in the first cable, a second coil connected electrically to the first coil and wound around the second core part to generate a second electromotive force in accordance with a current variation occurring in the second cable, and a CPU to determine that the first or second rail is broken based on an electromotive force that is a sum of the first and second electromotive forces.

Abstract: A method for braking a train set having guiding and guided locomotives interconnected by a time multiplex train bus, includes detecting actual operating current of the guided locomotive, detecting actual operating current of the guiding locomotive, detecting maximum return current, detecting pneumatic braking request of compressed air brake line, determining maximum return current and target braking of the guided locomotive from actual operating current of the guided locomotive, actual operating current of the guiding locomotive, maximum operating current and pneumatic braking request of the brake line, and electrically braking the train set using electrical target braking, while not exceeding maximum return current of the guided locomotive. The maximum current fed back by the guided locomotive is known, and the guided locomotive controlled through the main air line is braked while not exceeding the maximum return current. The braking force is divided by blending among E and pneumatic brakes.

Abstract: An article transport vehicle that travels along a traveling path is provided with an obstacle sensor that detects an obstacle that exists in a detection area, and a control unit that controls the traveling speed of the article transport vehicle based on detection information of the obstacle sensor. A non-detection area where detection of the obstacle by the obstacle sensor is not performed is set within the detectable area of the obstacle sensor, and a situation in which the non-detection area exists on a detection line that joins a part of the detection area and the obstacle sensor is defined as a specific situation. The control unit, in the specific situation, and a situation where an undetectable area in which it is not possible to detect the obstacle exists in the detection area because a shield exists in the non-detection area, reduces the speed of the article transport vehicle to a second traveling speed slower than the first traveling speed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes capturing, by a machine vision device, an image of an object in a railway environment. The machine vision device is attached to a first train car that is moving in a first direction along a first railroad track of the railway environment. The method also includes analyzing, by the machine vision device, the image of the object using one or more machine vision algorithms to determine a value associated with the object. The method further includes determining, by the machine vision device, that the value associated with the object indicates a potential deficiency of the object and communicating, by the machine vision device, an alert to a component external to the first train car. The alert comprises an indication of the potential deficiency of the object.