Ato device, rail vehicle and method for the automated driving of a rail vehicle

Abstract

A method is provided for the automated driving of a rail vehicle on tracks equipped with different track-side vehicle protection devices. Information items necessary for the automated driving are transferred at least partially from different on-board or vehicle-side vehicle protection devices to an ATO device, and the rail vehicle is controlled by the ATO device according to the transferred information items. An ATO device, a rail vehicle and a railway-technical installation are also provided.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . An ATO device for the automated driving of a rail vehicle on tracks equipped with different track-side vehicle protection devices, the ATO device comprising:
 at least two ATP interfaces configured for connecting the ATO device to different vehicle-side vehicle protection devices and for transferring information items necessary for the automated driving from the respective vehicle-side vehicle protection devices to the ATO device.   
     
     
         12 . The ATO device according to  claim 11 , which further comprises at least one control interface configured for connecting the ATO device to a vehicle control device of the rail vehicle and configured for controlling the rail vehicle through said at least one control interface. 
     
     
         13 . The ATO device according to  claim 11 , which further comprises at least one master interface configured for connecting the ATO device to an operational control center and configured for transferring information items necessary for the automated driving and not transferred through said at least two ATP interfaces by using said at least one master interface. 
     
     
         14 . A rail vehicle, comprising:
 at least one ATO device according to  claim 11 ; and   at least two different vehicle-side vehicle protection devices connected through said at least two ATP interfaces to said at least one ATO device;   said at least two vehicle-side vehicle protection devices each being configured to transfer information items necessary for the automated driving to said at least one ATO device.   
     
     
         15 . The rail vehicle according to  claim 14 , wherein one of said at least two vehicle protection devices is configured as an ETCS-vehicle protection device. 
     
     
         16 . The rail vehicle according to  claim 14 , wherein one of said at least two vehicle protection devices is configured as an LZB or PZB vehicle protection device. 
     
     
         17 . The rail vehicle according to  claim 14 , wherein said at least two vehicle protection devices, connected through said at least two ATP interfaces to said at least one ATO device, are connected to one another. 
     
     
         18 . A railway-technical installation, comprising:
 tracks having different track-side vehicle protection devices; and   at least one rail vehicle each including:
 at least one ATO device according to  claim 11 ; and 
 at least two different vehicle-side vehicle protection devices connected through said at least two ATP interfaces to said at least one ATO device; 
 said at least two vehicle-side vehicle protection devices each being configured to transfer information items necessary for the automated driving to said at least one ATO device. 
   
     
     
         19 . A method for the automated driving of a rail vehicle on tracks equipped with different track-side vehicle protection devices, the method comprising the following steps:
 transferring information items necessary for the automated driving at least partially from different vehicle-side vehicle protection devices to an ATO device; and   using the ATO device to control the rail vehicle in dependence on the transferred information items.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , which further comprises transferring further information items necessary for the automated driving, that were not transferred by one of the vehicle protection devices, from an operational control center to the ATO device.