Abstract: A control system is proposed which is capable of controlling driverless vehicles running on a fixed guideway according to schedule or demand. An input device is disposed at each station along the guideway to enable each passenger to enter his destination. A command and control center is in communication with the vehicles on the guideway and all the input devices. The center receives from each of the input devices simultaneously destination information and the identity of that one of the input devices providing the destination information to provide start information. A memory arrangement in the center contains control information for standard and diversion routes for all possible start-destination relationships. A computer arrangement in the center determines from all input information from the input devices whether the transport system should operate in a demand or scheduled mode at that moment in view of given operating criteria.

Abstract: A communication system for track or guideway operated vehicles is disclosed. The system is adapted for two-way transmission between a vehicle and a wayside station and is provided with a transmission line of special configuration along the wayside. The transmission line comprises three conductors each having a wave configuration with the waves disposed in three-phase relationship and a return conductor which is also of wave configuration. The vehicle transmitter section is provided with an inductive loop which is coupled with the transmission line and is energized with a continuous wave signal. This produces signals on the three phase conductors which have an envelope frequency proportional to vehicle speed and a phase relationship corresponding to the relative position of the wave configurations of the phase conductors. Thus, vehicle speed may be derived by measuring frequency and vehicle position may be derived by counting cycles or pulses from a given starting point.

Abstract: This invention relates in general to a passive responder of a position finding system including at least one microwave antenna and a resonator body. The resonator body is mounted adjacent the rail of a railroad track and is connected to a microwave antenna which points upwardly such that it receives radiation from a transmitter carried by the train. The radiation opening of the receiving antenna is adjacent the rail head and the antenna is covered with a cover member comprising dielectric material which comes into contact with the wheel as each wheel rolls past. The contact of the wheel with the dielectric cover assures that ice, snow, and other foreign material will be continuously cleared from the receiving antenna so as to assure optimum operation of the transponder.