Abstract: A signal aspect enforcement method for a rail vehicle includes determining, by an on-board controller on the rail vehicle, a position of the rail vehicle; determining, by the on-board controller, whether a first signal aspect for a signal matches a second signal aspect for the signal; and determining, by the on-board controller, at least one of a route of the rail vehicle or a speed limit of the rail vehicle when the first signal aspect matches the second signal aspect. The first signal aspect is determined from first data from first system on the rail vehicle, and the second signal aspect is determined from second data from a second system on the rail vehicle, which system is different from the first system used to determine the first signal aspect.

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 method and system include receiving positioning and motion information from one or more positioning and motion devices on a vehicle on a guideway, based on the positioning and motion information, receiving information from a database on the vehicle, the information comprising track geometry information and infrastructure information corresponding to the guideway, using the track geometry information and positioning and motion information to determine a path of the guideway and a trajectory of the vehicle along the path, receiving data from one or more electromagnetic sensors on the vehicle, and detecting an object by using the trajectory, the infrastructure information, and the information from the one or more electromagnetic sensors.

Abstract: A signal aspect enforcement method for a rail vehicle includes determining if vehicle position is unknown. The system determines if rail vehicle speed is less than a line-of-sight threshold speed. The system determines the grade of the rail. A worst-case braking distance of rail vehicle is calculated. The signal aspect is determined using a camera system and a beacon system. The system determines if the signal aspect determined by camera system is same as signal aspect determined by beacon system and, if so, determines the route of rail vehicle and speed limit of rail vehicle.

Abstract: A system for controlling a vehicle includes at least one vehicle network on board the vehicle, first and second controllers coupled to the at least one vehicle network and configured to communicate with each other via the at least one vehicle network, and first and second sensor sets coupled to the at least one vehicle network, and configured to communicate with any of the first and second controllers via the at least one vehicle network. Each of the first and second controllers is configured to, based on data output from any of the first and second sensor sets, control a movement of the vehicle independently of the other of the first and second controllers. The first sensor set is located at a first location on the vehicle, the second sensor set is located at a second location on the vehicle, and the second location is different from the first location.

Abstract: A system for determining a stationary state of a rail vehicle on a track includes a first radar mounted at an end of the rail vehicle and a second radar mounted at another end of the rail vehicle. A speed sensor is mounted on the rail vehicle. A series of fixed reflective track features are found along the track. A processing unit, communicably connected with the speed sensor, the first radar and the second radar receives data from the first radar and the second radar corresponding to the distance to the fixed reflective track features and determines the stationary state or low-speed condition of the rail vehicle and checks the state or condition by comparing it with an output of the speed sensor.

Abstract: A method for determining rail vehicle location and identifying obstacles, which includes operations of transmitting, from at least two vehicle beacons on a first vehicle, a ranging signal to at least two external beacons; receiving, at the at least two vehicle beacons, a return signal from the at least two external beacons; and determining, based on the return signal from the at least two external beacons, a position of each of the external beacons with respect to the at least two vehicle beacons of the first vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle locator includes an on-board computer and a ground penetrating radar mounted on the vehicle that is communicably connected to the on-board computer. A reflective landmark is located at a known location along the path of the vehicle. The reflective landmark includes reflective elements arranged to encode data. The ground penetrating radar transmits signal energy and detects reflected signal energy reflected by the reflective landmark and communicates encoded data representative of the reflected signal energy to the on-board computer. The on-board computer decodes the encoded data and thereby determines the location of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method of communication-based train control system migration includes scanning a guideway to generate surveying data and processing surveying data to calculate a 3-D representation of the guideway. Appropriate locations are determined for the communication-based control devices on the guideway. Communication-based train control devices are installed in a guideway at the determined appropriate locations and vehicles are retrofitted with an autonomy platform. Testing of the control devices and retrofit vehicles is performed. A communication-based train control system is used to control the retrofit vehicles when they operate within the guideway.

Abstract: A system comprises a set of sensors on a first end of a vehicle having the first end and a second end, and a controller. The sensors are configured to generate corresponding sensor data based on a detected object along a direction of movement of the vehicle. The controller is configured to compare a time at which the first sensor detected the object with a time at which the second sensor detected the object to identify the first end or the second end as a leading end of the vehicle, and to calculate a position of the leading end of the vehicle based on the sensor data generated by one or more of the first sensor or the second sensor. The controller is also configured to generate a map of the plurality of objects based on the sensor data.

Abstract: A vehicle-position monitoring system includes liquid-capacitive inclinometer sensor, configured to provide a measurement of grade (?grade) of a surface over which a vehicle travels, and an accelerometer to measure acceleration of the vehicle along a principal axis (ax) of the vehicle along the surface. Direct measurement of the grade (?grade) provides a position-tracking system with accurate information to extract acceleration due to motoring and braking (aMB) from acceleration experienced along the principal axis and track vehicle position without regard to wheel diameter calibration.

Abstract: The vehicle odometry and motion direction system and method is described. The vehicle odometry and motion direction system and method determines if the first ground speed data is acceptable. Ground speed data is calculated for all targets within a radar's field of view and targets ground speed data is processed to determine second ground speed data. The vehicle odometry and motion direction system and method determines trusted ground speed data using first ground speed data and second ground speed data and adjusts the trusted ground speed data due to errors in radar Doppler speed data.

Abstract: A self-learning vehicle control system, the control system including: a controller configured to receive one or more of the following inputs: actual propulsion effort command; actual braking effort command; requested speed command; change in the requested speed command; change in the requested acceleration command; measured vehicle location; measured vehicle 3-D speed; measured vehicle 3-D acceleration; and measured vehicle 3-D angular speed; and one or more position determination sensors communicably connected with the controller; one or more 3-D speed determination sensors communicably connected with the controller; one or more 3-D acceleration determination sensors communicably connected with the controller; one or more 3-D angular speed determination sensors communicably connected with the controller; and an output device communicably connected with the controller and for providing requested speed and acceleration commands.

Abstract: Systems and methods of calibrating an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) on a vehicle are disclosed. In some embodiments, a first tilt angle of the IMU is measured with the IMU while the vehicle is stationary. A second tilt angle of the IMU is measured with an inclinometer or tilt sensor while the vehicle is stationary. The orientation of the IMU is corrected based on the first tilt angle and the second tilt angle.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, methods, and software for train control and tracking using multi sensors, SSD/QR signs, and/or RF reflectors are disclosed, which enable determination of train location on a guideway, train movement authority, train length, and coupler status of each vehicle (married pair) and the consist (integrity) of the train.

Abstract: A method of common controller area network (CAN) bus traffic supervision on a system having a common CAN bus, a first CAN chip and a second CAN chip, the first CAN chip and the second CAN chip are coupled together with the common CAN bus, the method includes comparing a first CAN frame received from the first CAN chip to a second CAN frame received from the second CAN chip within a CAN comparison period, and detecting a failure of at least the first CAN chip or the second CAN chip. Detecting the failure of at least the first CAN chip or the second CAN chip includes determining that the first CAN frame is not identical to the second CAN frame within the CAN comparison period.

Abstract: A standalone odometry device includes an accelerometer and/or gyroscope configured to be mounted on a wheel or axle of a vehicle. A controller in communication with the accelerometer and/or gyroscope is configured to receive data from the accelerometer and/or gyroscope. The controller processes the data to determine one or more of the speed, wheel rotation direction, accumulated distance travelled, stationary status, acceleration, deceleration, wheel diameter, and grade of surface on which the wheel is in contact.

Abstract: Systems and method of calibrating a range measurement system for a vehicle mounted on a guideway are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method includes: measuring a first time of transmission (TOT) between a first internal component of an on-board range measurement device and a second internal component of a wayside range measurement device. The first TOT is compared with a first pre-determined time. A health of the range measurement system is determined based on a difference between the first TOT and the first pre-determined time.

Abstract: A vehicle positioning system includes processing circuitry in communication with the vehicle. The system further includes a memory connected to the processing circuitry, where the memory is configured to store executable instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, facilitate performance of operations. The operations include to receive vehicle-speed data from a first set of sensors operably coupled to the vehicle. The operations further include to predict a vehicle location based on the vehicle-speed data. The operations further include to receive inertial data from a second set of sensors operably coupled to the vehicle, and update the predicted vehicle location based upon the inertial data.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method of locating a guideway mounted vehicle are disclosed. In one embodiment, a communication signal is transmitted to a wayside communication device. A range estimation is obtained based on the communication signal. A radar signal is transmitted to at least one reflector. An accuracy of the range estimation is increased based on the radar signal.