This application describes completely in many unique ways and detail all the devices to reduce a vehicle's speed and/or reduce a machines RPM's and/or stop any piece of equipment's as well as guide it if mobile through automated controls First to slow it down, and guide it and/or control it if necessary (ie, other pieces of equipment) Secondly it discusses how to stop any piece of equipment completely And thirdly, the invention secures it in a safe stationary position either entirely or any number of specific moving parts Many of these systems are initially here described to slow, reduce speed, steer, stop and/or secure equipment functions However, they also can be used to increase a piece of equipment's functions In other words their variations are completely capable to serve any remote or automated controls on a vehicle in the future to provide full robotics systems, eg, for automated transportation systems, automated manufacturing, etc, either through individually isolated remote control systems and/or interfaced with other off-board systems through communication links, gateway computers, computer networks and the world wide web for inexpensive long distance monitoring and remote control The invention focuses on the automobile industry but as has always been maintained throughout all these applications these devices and systems are designed to control every piece of equipment The invention includes various accountable protocols and commercial developments to control speed, brake and steering for an automobile shut down to be performed through automation to a safe controlled secured deactivated state to be considered as a basis for a standard in aggressive vehicle remote control and/or to control and guide a vehicle and/or piece of equipment through many different automated systems

Electrically controlled automated devices to operate, slow, guide, stop and secure, equipment and machinery for the purpose of controlling their unsafe, unattended, unauthorized, unlawful hazardous and/or legal use, with remote control and accountability worldwide

A method for communicating data in a rail vehicle consist includes transmitting, at a first rail vehicle in the consist, first data over a running rail to a second, different rail vehicle in the consist, where the running rail guides and supports the rail vehicles of the consist as the rail vehicles travel along the running rail. The method also includes monitoring the running rail for second data and receiving the second data over the running rail for use by a first system onboard the first rail vehicle.

Communication system and method for a rail vehicle consist

Method and communication system for a railroad train having at least one locomotive for automatically adjusting the communication system to provide effective communication of command data to control operation of the locomotive are provided. The system includes a transceiver on the locomotive. The system further includes at least one transceiver remote from the locomotive. A database (e.g., 18) may be provided for storing data relative to a plurality of communication schemes available to the communication system. A first monitor (e.g., 12) may be used for sensing a parameter indicative of the quality of the communications between the transceivers when the transceivers are operating under a first one of the available communication schemes and generating data indicative of communications quality. A processor (e.g., 16) in communication with the monitor and the database may be configured to select a second communication scheme when the quality of the communications provided by the first communication scheme is not satisfactory to ensure that the command data will be reliably communicated with respect to the locomotive.

Intelligent communications, command, and control system for a land-based vehicle

A wireless communication device of a vehicle system includes one or more antennas configured to be disposed onboard a first vehicle of the vehicle system, a first modem configured to be disposed onboard the first vehicle and to communicate a first wireless signal to one or more of a second vehicle of the vehicle system or an off-board device using the one or more antennas, and a second modem configured to be disposed onboard the first vehicle and to communicate a second wireless signal to the one or more of the second vehicle or the off-board device using the one or more antennas. The first modem is configured to communicate the first wireless signal via a first type of wireless communication link and the second modem is configured to communicate the second wireless signal via a different, second type of wireless communication link.

Methods and systems for data communications

A communication system includes a router transceiver unit and a bandwidth module. The router transceiver unit includes a network adapter module and a signal modulator module. The network adapter module is configured to receive high bandwidth network data from one or more data sources disposed on board a vehicle. The signal modulator module is configured for electrical connection to a wired connection, and to convert the high bandwidth network data into modulated network data in a form suitable for transmission over the wired connection. The bandwidth module is configured to allocate different portions of a data communication bandwidth of the wired connection to the modulated network data. The allocation is based on categories representing at least one of the one or more data sources or contents of the high bandwidth network data.

Data communication system and method

A train control system includes a plurality of control subsystems for installation in respective locomotives. At least one of the control subsystems is configurable as a lead control subsystem, and at least one other control subsystem is configurable as a remote control subsystem. Each control subsystem preferably comprises a radio transceiver, a first processor connected to the radio transceiver for communicating with at least one other control subsystem, an electronic brake valve connected to the first processor, and an electro-pneumatic controller connected to the first processor and the electronic brake valve, for interfacing to the air brake system of the train. The first processor preferably comprises a locomotive computer interface for performing both distributed power and electronic air brake functions in cooperation with the locomotive control computer. The distributed power functions may comprise at least one of tractive effort and dynamic braking functions. The electronic air brake functions preferably comprise at least one of automatic service braking, independent braking, and emergency braking.

Dale Delaruelle

Papers

Distributed power and electronic air brake control system for a train and associated methods