Rail Vehicle Signal Enforcement and Separation Control

Abstract

A system for vehicle management includes a control signal interface subsystem and a vehicle-mounted subsystem. Each of these subsystems includes an ultra-wideband (UWB) communications component. The subsystems communicate with each other through the UWB components. The vehicle mounted subsystem interfaces with a braking system of the vehicle. The vehicle mounted subsystem determines the distance between it and the control signal interface subsystem based on the time-of-flight of at least one communication between the subsystems. The vehicle-mounted subsystem can cause the braking system of the vehicle to activate if the distance between the vehicle-mounted subsystem and the control signal interface subsystem is less than a threshold.

1 . A system for vehicle management, wherein the system comprises:
 a control signal interface subsystem including an ultra-wideband (UWB) communications component; and   a vehicle-mounted subsystem including a UWB communications component, wherein the vehicle-mounted subsystem is configured to:
 interface with a braking system of the vehicle; 
 communicate with the UWB communications component of the control signal interface subsystem via the UWB communications component of the vehicle-mounted subsystem; and 
 determine a distance between the vehicle-mounted subsystem and the control signal interface subsystem based on a time-of-flight of at least one communication between the UWB communications component of the control signal interface subsystem and the UWB communications component of the vehicle-mounted subsystem. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle-mounted subsystem is further configured to generate an alert if the distance between the vehicle-mounted subsystem and the control signal interface subsystem is less than a threshold. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle-mounted subsystem is further configured to cause the braking system of the vehicle to activate if the distance between the vehicle-mounted subsystem and the control signal interface subsystem is less than a threshold. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle-mounted subsystem further comprises:
 a radio-frequency identification (RFID) subsystem configured to scan at least one RFID tag external to the vehicle to retrieve information stored on the at least one RFID tag; and   wherein the vehicle-mounted subsystem is further configured to determine a distance between the vehicle-mounted subsystem and the control signal interface subsystem based on the information stored on the at least one RFID tag.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the vehicle-mounted subsystem is further configured to substantially continuously receive information relating to speed of the vehicle; and   the vehicle-mounted subsystem determines a changing distance between the vehicle-mounted subsystem and the control signal interface subsystem based on the information stored on the at least one RFID tag and the information relating to speed of the vehicle.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an access point external to the vehicle; and   wherein the vehicle-mounted subsystem is further configured to:
 store data relating to prior behavior of the vehicle; and 
 communicate the data relating to prior behavior of the vehicle with the access point. 
   
     
     
         7 . A system for vehicle management, wherein the system comprises:
 a control signal interface subsystem including an ultra-wideband (UWB) communications component;   a first vehicle-mounted subsystem including a UWB communications component, wherein the first vehicle-mounted subsystem is configured to interface with a braking system of the vehicle;   a second vehicle-mounted subsystem including a UWB communications component, wherein the second vehicle-mounted subsystem is configured to be mounted on another vehicle; and   wherein the first vehicle-mounted subsystem is configured to:
 communicate with the UWB communications component of the control signal interface subsystem via the UWB communications component of the first vehicle-mounted subsystem; 
 communicate with the UWB communications component of the second vehicle-mounted subsystem via the UWB communications component of the first vehicle-mounted subsystem; 
 determine a distance between the first vehicle-mounted subsystem and the control signal interface subsystem based on a time-of-flight of at least one communication between the UWB communications component of the control signal interface subsystem and the UWB communications component of the first vehicle-mounted subsystem; and 
 determine a distance between the first vehicle-mounted subsystem and the second vehicle-mounted subsystem based on a time-of-flight of at least one communication between the UWB communications component of the second vehicle-mounted subsystem and the UWB communications component of the first vehicle-mounted subsystem. 
   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the first vehicle-mounted subsystem is further configured to:
 generate an alert if the distance between the first vehicle-mounted subsystem and the control signal interface subsystem is less than a first threshold; and   generate an alert if the distance between the first vehicle-mounted subsystem and the second vehicle-mounted subsystem is less than a second threshold.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the first vehicle-mounted subsystem is further configured to:
 cause the braking system of the vehicle to activate if the distance between the first vehicle-mounted subsystem and the control signal interface subsystem is less than a first threshold; and   cause the braking system of the vehicle to activate if the distance between the first vehicle-mounted subsystem and the second vehicle-mounted subsystem is less than a second threshold.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the first vehicle-mounted subsystem further comprises:
 a radio-frequency identification (RFID) subsystem configured to scan at least one RFID tag external to the vehicle to retrieve information stored on the at least one RFID tag; and   wherein the first vehicle-mounted subsystem is further configured to determine a distance between the first vehicle-mounted subsystem and the control signal interface subsystem based on the information stored on the at least one RFID tag.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the first vehicle-mounted subsystem is further configured to substantially continuously receive information relating to speed of the first vehicle; and   the first vehicle-mounted subsystem determines a changing distance between the first vehicle-mounted subsystem and the control signal interface subsystem based on the information stored on the at least one RFID tag and the information relating to speed of the first vehicle.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 an access point external to the vehicle; and   wherein the first vehicle-mounted subsystem is further configured to:
 store data relating to prior behavior of the vehicle; and 
 communicate the data relating to prior behavior of the vehicle with the access point. 
   
     
     
         13 . A vehicle-mounted system for interfacing with a brake loop of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle-mounted system comprises:
 a switch including a first contact configured to connect to a first side of the brake loop and a second contact configured to connect to a second side of the brake loop; and   at least one processor in electrical communication with the switch and configured to:
 automatically determine a braking event without receiving information about a status of an operator-controlled actuator; 
 open the switch upon an occurrence of the braking event, thereby electrically disconnecting the first contact from the second contact; and 
 close the switch upon an expiration of the braking event, thereby electrically connecting the first contact with the second contact. 
   
     
     
         14 . The vehicle-mounted system of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to cause an alert to be generated upon occurrence of the braking event. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicle-mounted system of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the expiration of the braking event based on a change in status of an operator-controlled input. 
     
     
         16 . A system for vehicle speed management, wherein the system comprises:
 a control signal interface subsystem; and   a vehicle-mounted subsystem configured to:
 communicate with the control signal interface subsystem to receive information corresponding to a status of the control signal; 
 determine a rule for behavior of the vehicle according to the information corresponding to the status of the control signal; and 
 observe operation of the vehicle to evaluate compliance with the rule. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the rule corresponds to the status of the control signal being at least one of red, double red, yellow, or double yellow. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the rule specifies a stop-time duration for the vehicle. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the rule specifies a speed for the vehicle. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the rule specifies a maximum speed for the vehicle after an expiration of the stop-time.