System for operation of trains by operators not physically present on the train

Abstract

A system enables operation and control of railroad trains by remotely-located train operators. A centralized communication management server facilitates and manages virtual links between trains to be controlled and the appropriate remote train operators. The server routes train health and status information from each train as gathered by a locomotive control unit to the appropriate remote operator. The server also routes locomotive video, audio, train dynamics information, and other sensory data as gathered by the locomotive control unit from each train to the appropriate remote operator. Operator commands from each remote operator are routed by the server to the locomotive control unit in the appropriate train. The locomotive control unit executes received remote operator commands via conventional locomotive systems and interfaces. The locomotive control unit works with existing locomotive systems to bring a train to a safe and orderly stop in the event communication with the remote operator is lost.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system for operation and control of railroad trains by remotely-located train operators, said system comprising:
 control stands for each train operator, each control stand having controls for operation of a train and a display for showing information regarding the status of the train;   a server in communication with the control stands;   locomotive control units on each train in communication with the server, each locomotive control unit having sensors monitoring the status of the train and communicating sensor data to the server, and controls controlling operation of the train in response to operation commands received from the server; and   wherein the server provides authentication of a train operator at a control stand with respect to a selected train, and establishes a virtual link routing communications between the select train and the train operator, thereby enabling the train operator to remotely control operation of the train using the controls of the operator's control stand and display sensor data from the selected train.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a communications segment providing wireless communications between the server and the locomotive control units. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the control stand and server further comprises means for providing audio communications between the train operator and railroad personnel. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the server further comprises means for providing a handover of control of a train between train operators without stopping the train. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the sensor data comprises video from the train. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the sensor data comprises information on train dynamics. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the locomotive control unit further comprises means for bringing the train to a stop if communications with the operator's control stand is lost. 
     
     
         8 . A method for operating railroad trains by remotely-located train operators comprising:
 providing a server in communication with a plurality of control stands having controls for operation of a train by a train operator and a display for showing information regarding the status of the train;   providing a locomotive control unit on each locomotive in communication with the server via a communications segment, said locomotive control unit being interfaced to control operation of the train and receive data from sensors regarding the status of the train;   authenticating a train operator at a control stand with respect to a selected train to define a virtual link routing communications between the control stand of the train operator and the selected train;   communicating operation commands from the control stand of the train operator to the locomotive control unit of the linked train to control operation of the linked train; and   communicating sensor data from the train to the control stand of the linked train operator indicating the status of the train.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein communications between the server and the locomotive control units comprises a wireless communications segment. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the control stand and server further provide audio communications between the train operator and railroad personnel. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the server further provides a handover of control of a train between train operators without stopping the train. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the sensor data comprises video from the train. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the sensor data comprises information on train dynamics. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the locomotive control unit further comprises means for bringing the train to a stop if communications with the operator's control stand is lost.