METHODS AND MEANS FOR MONITORING EVENTS IN VEHICLES

摘要

Events in a vehicle are monitored by producing electrical outputs representative of events in the vehicle, comparing characteristics of one event with characteristics of other events accumulated over a given period of time and determining departures of a given extent from the other characteristics as an indication of a significant event, and sending a warning in response to the indication, particularly with the position of the vehicle determined by a GPS receiver on the vehicle. In an embodiment a microcomputer responds to the outputs of an accelerometer system mounted on a railroad car by comparing acceleration characteristics of one impact with accumulated acceleration characteristics of other impacts and determining departures of a given extent from other characteristics as a failure indication, signalling a warning in response to the indication.