Train navigation system and method

摘要

A navigation system for a train having at least one locomotive or control car and, optionally, at least one railroad car, operating in a track network, wherein an on-board computer determines or receives location data and communicates or causes the communication of the location data and/or railway data to another locomotive or control car, another train, a remote server, or the like. A train navigation method is also provided.

主权项

1. A navigation system for a train having at least one locomotive or control car and, optionally, at least one railroad car, operating in a track network, the system comprising:
on the at least one locomotive or control car:
(i) an on-board computer programmed or configured to implement or facilitate at least one train action;(ii) a communication device in communication with the on-board computer and programmed or configured to receive, transmit, and/or process data signals;(iii) at least one database in communication with the on-board computer with railway data stored therein; and(iv) at least one inertial sensor programmed or configured to generate inertial data; wherein the on-board computer of the at least one locomotive or control car is programmed or configured to:
(a) determine or receive location data representing at least one of the following: the location or position of the train in the track network, the location or position of the at least one locomotive or control car in the track network, or any combination thereof;(b) after traversing at least one non-linear track section and/or at least one switch, generate route signature data based at least partially on at least a portion of the inertial data; and(c) communicate or cause the communication of at least a portion of the location data and/or railway data to at least one of the following: at least one other locomotive or control car of the train, at least one other train operating in the track network, at least one remote server, a central controller, a central dispatch server, a switch, a wayside device, a wayside interface unit, a signal device, or any combination thereof.