Patents by Inventor Firth Whitwam

Firth Whitwam has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20150051806
    Abstract: A vehicle-based positioning system (VBPS) for a vehicle traversing a guideway, the VBPS includes an inertial navigation system (INS) on-board the vehicle, wherein the INS is configured to detect inertial parameters of the vehicle while the vehicle traverses the guideway, the detected inertial parameters including roll, pitch and yaw of the vehicle. The VBPS includes a guideway database, wherein the guideway database is configured to store inertial parameters of the guideway at a plurality of locations along the guideway, the stored inertial parameters include roll, pitch and yaw of the guideway. The VBPS further includes a vital on-board controller (VOBC), the VOBC is configured to determine a position of the vehicle based on a comparison of the detected inertial parameters with the stored inertial parameters. The VOBC is configured to limit comparison of the inertial parameters with the stored inertial parameters based on a latest checkpoint passed by the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: thales Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Ehsan Kimiagar, Firth Whitwam
  • Publication number: 20150051761
    Abstract: A locator loop control system includes a guideway configured to define a travel path of a vehicle. The locator loop control system further includes a locator loop located along the guideway, the locator loop configured to exchange information with a vital on-board controller (VOBC) on-board the vehicle. The locator loop control system further includes a first proximity plate located along the guideway, the first proximity plate spaced a first distance along the guideway from the locator loop, and a wayside controller configured to communicate with the locator loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Abe KANNER, Firth Whitwam, Mohammed El-Azizy, Philip Chorazy
  • Publication number: 20120323411
    Abstract: A vehicle management system for automatic vehicles running on a guideway independent of wayside signals or interlocking devices includes intelligent on-board controllers on each vehicle for controlling operation of the vehicle. The on-board controllers communicate with each other as well as individual wayside devices and a data storage system to identify available assets needed to move along the guideway and to reserve these assets for their associated vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: THALES CANADA INC.
    Inventors: Firth Whitwam, Abe Kanner