AUTOMATIC VEHICLE CONTROL AND LOCATION SYSTEM

摘要

A signaling and traffic control system which is capable of a vehicle (2) determining its own absolute position along a guideway (21) based on information received from the wayside (25) using an inductive loop or beacon system (26) in conjunction with the distance traveled according to the onboard tach generator(s) (12), and report its position to a wayside control system (Fig. 3) whereby the wayside control system (Fig. 3) reports to the vehicle (2), as part of its communications message, the location of the closest forward obstacle. Based upon this information, the vehicle (2) controls itself safely based upon its characteristics as contained in a topographical database (106) and a vehicle database (108).