Locomotive collision avoidance method and system
llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllIllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll USOO5574469A United States Patent [19]
[11] Patent Number:
Hsu
[45]
[54]
Date of Patent:
Nov. 12, 1996
LOCOMOTIVE COLLISION AVOIDANCE
5,420,792
5/1995 Butsuen et al. .................. .. 364/426.04
METHOD AND SYSTEM
5,450,329
9/1995 Tanner .................................. .. 364/449
_
[75]
5,574,469
Primary ExaminerwTheodore M. Blum
Inventor. George C. C. Hsu, Fort Worth, Tex.
Attorney’ Agent, or Fi,m_Robert A‘ Felsman
[73] Assignee: Burlington Northern Railroad Company, Fort Worth, Tex.
[57]
ABSTRACT
A method and system are disclosed for improved collision
[21] APPL No; 360,401
avoidance of two locomotives by periodically receiving on
_
each locomotive digitally encoded data to deterrmne its
[22] Filed:
Dec. 21, 1994
geographical location, speed and direction of travel by means of an onboard global positioning system receiver. A
[51]
Int. Cl.6 ...................................................... .. G01S 3/02
[52] [58]
UjS‘ Cl’ """"""" " ‘ 341x455’ 342/357’ 364/461 Fleld of Search ................................... .. 342/357, 455; 364/449’ 461
_
.
_
2,762,913
from the received digital signals from the other locomotive
containing the second locomotive’s geographical location,
U5. PATENT DOCUMENTS
speed and direction of travel and locomotive identi?cation. The data frames are processed and displayed onboard each
9/1956 Jepson ~
’
locomotive to determine if the other is a collision candidate.
If so, collision avoidance procedures are automatically ini
.uss '
4,473,787
.
References cued
g2)“ ' ’
.
locomotive. Each locomotive periodically broadcasts to the other digitally encoded signals Containing the ?rst data frame. A second data frame is created on each locomotive
,
[56]
.
?rst data frame includmg th1s data is created on each
9/1984
tiated, including initiation of aural and visual alarms at a ?rst
Schick,
.
.
4701760 10/1987 Raoux’ 4:397:661 1/1990 Himiwa _ 4,949,089 8/1990 Ruszkowski, Jr_ _
selected distance and the reduction of speed at a second selected, closer distance. The speed reduction includes the application of the locomotive and/or train brakes and throttle
5,068,654 11/1991 Husher. 5,153,836 10/1992 Fraughton et a1. . .................. .. 364/461 5,155,490 10/1992 Spradley, Jr- et a1- -
reduction to arrest locomotive or train movement to com plete cessation. The identity of each locomotive is estab lished with an onboard operator input device and broadcast
jam)‘ ,
,
?l'lCX
with other of the digitally encoded data.
.
5,369,591
11/1994 Broxmeyer ............................ .. 364/461
5,396,426
3/1995 Hibino et a1. .................... .. 364/426.04
8 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
:11
RF antenna
GPS antenna 55
s 51 Thumbwheel switches: Dial in host locomotive lD
53
5
1st push-button: ACKnowledgement
GPS receiver
2nd push-button:
857
Other optional inputs
Processor: RF Data Radio
A
135
RESET alarm
>
Algorithm module Display driver Aural alarm Visual alarm Alerter interface
(penalty braking)
Display
it
36
31
29 35 A Penalty brake (alerter I61 ' magnetic valve)
I Power Supply P 50
Other optional outputs
63
U.S. Patent
Nov. 12, 1996
Sheet 1 of 5
5,574,469
mwh
U.S. Patent
Nov. 12, 1996
Sheet 2 0f 5
5,574,469
mm
Pm
M@w>2;o5s_3. N
“mm N .5
E“53.1“0$;
US. Patent
Nov. 12, 1996
Sheet 4 of 5
101
G.P.S. DATA ACQUIRED '? YES
3105
GET SPEED DATA
1
[11] Patent Number:
Hsu
[45]
[54]
Date of Patent:
Nov. 12, 1996
LOCOMOTIVE COLLISION AVOIDANCE
5,420,792
5/1995 Butsuen et al. .................. .. 364/426.04
METHOD AND SYSTEM
5,450,329
9/1995 Tanner .................................. .. 364/449
_
[75]
5,574,469
Primary ExaminerwTheodore M. Blum
Inventor. George C. C. Hsu, Fort Worth, Tex.
Attorney’ Agent, or Fi,m_Robert A‘ Felsman
[73] Assignee: Burlington Northern Railroad Company, Fort Worth, Tex.
[57]
ABSTRACT
A method and system are disclosed for improved collision
[21] APPL No; 360,401
avoidance of two locomotives by periodically receiving on
_
each locomotive digitally encoded data to deterrmne its
[22] Filed:
Dec. 21, 1994
geographical location, speed and direction of travel by means of an onboard global positioning system receiver. A
[51]
Int. Cl.6 ...................................................... .. G01S 3/02
[52] [58]
UjS‘ Cl’ """"""" " ‘ 341x455’ 342/357’ 364/461 Fleld of Search ................................... .. 342/357, 455; 364/449’ 461
_
.
_
2,762,913
from the received digital signals from the other locomotive
containing the second locomotive’s geographical location,
U5. PATENT DOCUMENTS
speed and direction of travel and locomotive identi?cation. The data frames are processed and displayed onboard each
9/1956 Jepson ~
’
locomotive to determine if the other is a collision candidate.
If so, collision avoidance procedures are automatically ini
.uss '
4,473,787
.
References cued
g2)“ ' ’
.
locomotive. Each locomotive periodically broadcasts to the other digitally encoded signals Containing the ?rst data frame. A second data frame is created on each locomotive
,
[56]
.
?rst data frame includmg th1s data is created on each
9/1984
tiated, including initiation of aural and visual alarms at a ?rst
Schick,
.
.
4701760 10/1987 Raoux’ 4:397:661 1/1990 Himiwa _ 4,949,089 8/1990 Ruszkowski, Jr_ _
selected distance and the reduction of speed at a second selected, closer distance. The speed reduction includes the application of the locomotive and/or train brakes and throttle
5,068,654 11/1991 Husher. 5,153,836 10/1992 Fraughton et a1. . .................. .. 364/461 5,155,490 10/1992 Spradley, Jr- et a1- -
reduction to arrest locomotive or train movement to com plete cessation. The identity of each locomotive is estab lished with an onboard operator input device and broadcast
jam)‘ ,
,
?l'lCX
with other of the digitally encoded data.
.
5,369,591
11/1994 Broxmeyer ............................ .. 364/461
5,396,426
3/1995 Hibino et a1. .................... .. 364/426.04
8 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
:11
RF antenna
GPS antenna 55
s 51 Thumbwheel switches: Dial in host locomotive lD
53
5
1st push-button: ACKnowledgement
GPS receiver
2nd push-button:
857
Other optional inputs
Processor: RF Data Radio
A
135
RESET alarm
>
Algorithm module Display driver Aural alarm Visual alarm Alerter interface
(penalty braking)
Display
it
36
31
29 35 A Penalty brake (alerter I61 ' magnetic valve)
I Power Supply P 50
Other optional outputs
63
U.S. Patent
Nov. 12, 1996
Sheet 1 of 5
5,574,469
mwh
U.S. Patent
Nov. 12, 1996
Sheet 2 0f 5
5,574,469
mm
Pm
M@w>2;o5s_3. N
“mm N .5
E“53.1“0$;
US. Patent
Nov. 12, 1996
Sheet 4 of 5
101
G.P.S. DATA ACQUIRED '? YES
3105
GET SPEED DATA
1
