Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation

Wabtec Holding Corporation

Transportation IP Holdings, LLC

Wabtec Railway Electronics

Jeffrey Donald Kernwein

James Allen Oswald

Ann K Grimm

Joseph W Gorman

Matthew Vrba

James H Moore

Scott A Sollars

Stephen Howard Craven

Andrew Ryan Staats

Karen Ann Shaw

Stuart John Barr

James L Fenske

Kristofer M Ruhland

Rebecca W Dreasher

Christopher Claussen

Michael Bratcher

Jared Klineman Cooper

Mark Bradshaw Kraeling

David Michael Peltz

Eugene Andrew Smith

Todd William Goodermuth

Robert James Foy

David Allen Eldredge

Steven Andrew Kellner

Brian Joseph McManus

Keith E Smith

James Glen Corry

Brian William Schroeck

Daniel Joseph Rush

Frank Richard Wawrzyniak

Benjamin L Henniges

Kendrick W Gawne

Timothy Allen Schultz

Joseph Mario Nazareth

M Frank Wilson

Phillip A Burgart

Francois P Pretorius

Janmejay Tripathy

Craig Karl Green

Jerrid D Chapman

Joshua M Bramucci

Ajith Kuttannair Kumar

Bret Dwayne Worden

James D Brooks

Jeremy Thomas McGarry

Derek Kevin Woo

Richard S Klemanski

Vinaykanth Venkatasubba Mudiam

Hullas Sehgal

David H Halvorson

Danial Rice

Ralph Caswell Haddock, Iii

Kevin J Angel

Dennis W Sutherland

Adam Charles Hausmann

David Bradley Pulliam

Sathya Vagheeswar Venkatasubramanian

Thomas Paul Spiegelhalter, Jr

Tania Lindsley

Brett Trombo-Somerville

Scott Sollars

William Christopher Hall

Brian James Langstraat

Edward J Kuchar

Shannon K Struttmann

Bryan Clay Burke

James Lucas

Irwin Morris

Jeremy Blackwell

Kevin Ray Ruybal

Stephen Craven

Ralph C Haddock

Jared Little

Jeffrey D Chapman

Michael Charles Kirchner

Chad E Diefenderfer

Matthew T Wall

Donald J Gillen

Shawn D Rouse

Albert J Neupaver

Jeffrey G Knott

Steve R Graham

Frank Wilson

Bryan C Burke

William C Hall

A vehicle control system and method includes identifying a type of route equipment disposed onboard a vehicle, and identifying one or more locations of a first classification of a pathway from among plural different classifications of pathways along a route. One or more first control settings for controlling operating of the vehicle at the one or more locations of the first classification of the pathway are determined based at least in part on the type of route equipment that is disposed onboard the vehicle and the first classification of the pathway. Operation of the vehicle is controlled according to the one or more first control settings to move the vehicle along the route at the one or more locations of the first classification of the pathway.

Vehicle control systems and methods

A system and method can include determining a location of a locating device disposed onboard a vehicle system, identify a size of the vehicle system, calculate a duration that the vehicle system has been blocking or will be blocking an intersection between at least two intersecting routes based at least in part on the location of the locating device and on the size of the multi-vehicle system, and implement one or more responsive actions to clear the intersection responsive to the calculation of the duration. Optionally, the system and method can predict or forecast whether a vehicle system approaching or moving through the intersection will come to a stop in a locking that blocks the intersection, and implement one or more responsive actions.

Vehicle control system

A method is provided that may include obtaining image data from vision sensors disposed onboard a vehicle. The method may include determining a stopping distance of the vehicle based at least in part on the image data using an artificial intelligence (AI) neural network having artificial neurons arranged in layers and connected with each other by connections. A moving speed and a speed limit of the vehicle may be determined using the AI neural network. The method may control movement of the vehicle using the AI neural network by enforcing movement authorities preventing unwarranted movement of the vehicle based on a difference between the moving speed and the speed limit. The method may include receiving feedback regarding the stopping distance and the speed limit calculated by the artificial neurons and training the AI neural network by changing connections between the artificial neurons based on the feedback received.

Vehicle speed management systems and methods

A system and method includes a first control system having one or more processors onboard a lead vehicle of a vehicle system that includes the lead vehicle and a remote vehicle. The second control system automatically restricts movement of the vehicle system based on a location of the vehicle system. The processors detect a signal instance of an operator actuating an input device, and communicate a vehicle information request message to the second control system. The second control system communicates a list of vehicle identifiers, that includes a vehicle identifier associated with the remote vehicle, to the processors. The processors communicate a wireless linking message, including a request to establish a communication link, to the remote vehicle based on the vehicle identifier associated with the remote vehicle.

System and method of establishing a communication link between lead and remote vehicles of a consist

A system may include a sensor that detects positioning data indicative of a position of a first coupler of a first vehicle system and positioning data indicative of a position of a second coupler of a second vehicle system during a coupling event of the vehicle systems. A controller includes one or more processors that receive the positioning data of the first and second couplers and determines whether the first coupler is misaligned with the second coupler. The controller may initiate an action of the first coupler, the second coupler, the first vehicle system, or the second vehicle system to change a position of the first coupler, the second coupler, the first vehicle system, or the second vehicle system. Changing the position of the first coupler, the second coupler, the first vehicle system, or the second vehicle system aligns the first coupler with the second coupler.

Device, system, and method for monitoring a distance between rail cars during coupling

A system may include a controller with one or more processors. The controller may determine the wheel size of a wheel of a vehicle during a trip. The one or more processors may communicate a message associated with the wheel size to an off-board device when the wheel size is below a threshold size.

System and method for controlling an axle of a vehicle

A system is provided that include at least one positioning system that can detect a location or position of a vehicle or a portion of a vehicle group that includes the vehicle, at least one sensor positioned on or associated with the vehicle that can generate sensor data of a determined parameter or condition, and a controller in communication with the sensor and the positioning system. The controller can determine that a hazard event has occurred based at least partially on sensor data, and can communicate a hazard event notification based at least in part on the location data and the sensor data to a remote server.

Alerting system and method

A remote initialization system and method for a vehicle system receive trip data for an upcoming trip at an off-board device. Using the off-board device, the trip data is communicated to the different back-office systems, and one or more of mandatory directives or software configuration requirements are received at the off-board device from the different back-office systems. An initialization data set that includes at least some of the trip data and at least some of the one or more of the mandatory directives or the software configuration requirements is communicated from the off-board device to an onboard controller of the vehicle system. The initialization data set is configured to be used by the onboard controller to control movement of the vehicle system in the different sets of the routes.

Remote initialization system for a vehicle system

A computer-implemented method is provided that includes obtaining a first secret and a first public key, and obtaining a second secret a second public key. The method may also include authenticating the first public key of the first vehicle based on a first private key associated with the first vehicle, and authenticating the second public key of the second vehicle based on a second private key associated with the second vehicle. The method may also include preventing a man-in-the-middle attack, by securing at least one of a first vehicle-to-central office communication, a central office-to-first vehicle communication, or a first vehicle-to-second vehicle, wherein the first vehicle-to-central office communication and the central office-to-first vehicle communication are authenticated based on a determined private key associated with a respective first vehicle on-board computer, and sending a message, with the central office server, to a vehicle associated with a conditional movement authority.

Secure vehicle to vehicle PTC communication

A system and method include a control unit configured to detect a presence of a vehicle within a route area based on sensor signals output by an observer device that monitors the route area. The control unit is configured to determine a distance of the vehicle from the observer device and to determine a vehicle location of the vehicle based on the distance and a predetermined location of the observer device. The system and method include a communication device configured to communicate the vehicle location to at least one of the vehicle or a remote control device that is off-board the vehicle prior to the vehicle starting to move along a route occupied by the vehicle.

Vehicle location determining system and method

A switch locking system and method of an authorized locomotive for safely traversing a switch in a railway including sending a lock command from a computer onboard the authorized locomotive to a switch controller associated with the switch; determining if a lock confirmation from the switch controller is received by the computer onboard the authorized locomotive; and safely traversing the switch upon receipt of the lock confirmation. The switch locking system and method may include sending an unlock command from a computer onboard the authorized locomotive to a switch controller after the train clears the switch.

Method and apparatus for vehicle-based switch locking in a rail network

A vehicle location and control system determines a signal-derived separation distance between antennas disposed onboard a vehicle based on signals received by the antennas from an off-board source. The system determines an input-derived separation distance between the antennas based on input offset distances of the antennas from a designated location on the vehicle, determines a difference between the input-derived separation distance and the signal-derived separation distance, and activates or deactivates an automated route identification system that determines which route of several different routes that the vehicle is disposed upon based on the difference that is determined.

Vehicle location and control system

A vehicle control system receives a proximity signal at a sensor assembly from a vehicle system. The proximity signal indicates that the vehicle system is approaching a location of the sensor assembly. A sensor of the sensor assembly is activated responsive to receiving the proximity signal. One or more characteristics of the vehicle system are sensed as the vehicle system moves by the sensor assembly. A sensor signal that represents the one or more characteristics of the vehicle system is communicated to an onboard controller of the vehicle system and/or an off-board system to control operation of the vehicle system based on the one or more characteristics of the vehicle system.

Provided is a computer-implemented method for verifying electronic work zone instructions with an on-board system of a vehicle system. The method includes receiving at least one electronic work zone instruction message from an employee-in-charge device, generating at least one visual instruction diagram based at least partially on the electronic work zone instruction message, communicating the at least one visual instruction diagram from the on-board system of the vehicle system to the employee-in-charge device, receiving a verification of the at least one visual instruction diagram from the employee-in-charge device, and enforcing at least one work zone instruction parameter of the electronic work zone instruction message by the on-board system of the vehicle system in response to receiving the verification. A system and computer program product are also provided.

Work zone instruction verification system

Methods and systems for managing a speed of a vehicle are provided. The methods and systems obtain image data from one or more vision sensors disposed onboard a vehicle. A stopping distance of the vehicle is determined based at least in part on the image data. A moving speed of the vehicle and a speed limit of the vehicle are determined. The speed limit is determined based on the stopping distance that is determined from the image data. The methods and systems control movement of the vehicle based on a difference between the moving speed of the vehicle and the speed limit of the vehicle.

Growing community of inventors

Cedar Rapids, IA, United States of America

Jeffrey Donald Kernwein