Abstract: A vehicle control unit for a short-distance traffic system is disclosed wherein a plurality of vehicles are controlled from a center. Each vehicle carries at least two on-board computers each of which process the control commands coming from the center to provide commands to on-board units and compiles telegrams to the center concerning the condition, location and speed of the vehicle in response to information from the on-board units. Both computers perform the necessary processing independently of each other. A comparator ensures that commands to the on-board units and the compiled telegrams are not sent until this information is received in identical form from both computers. Each computer delivers life signals at regular intervals to an associated emergency brake circuit, which initiate emergency braking if life signals from the associated one of the computers are not received within a given period of time.

Abstract: A vehicle control system is disclosed which comprises a center and a plurality of vehicles carrying two redundant computer systems as on-board control equipment. Each of the computer systems consists of two computers which compare their results and deliver them only if they agree. Which of the two computer systems processes the telegrams received from the center and compiles telegrams to the center from messages of the on-board units is determined from the center. At regular intervals switchover to the other computer system is effected to check whether the latter is functioning correctly or not. Any failure in one computer system need no longer result in the application of the emergency brakes. However, a fault message is sent to the center, and the vehicle is directed to the maintenance shop at the end of the movement.