Ultra-wideband work train protection

Abstract

Systems for protecting a work train using an ultra-wideband (UWB) ranging system are disclosed. Aspects include a plurality of UWB wayside beacons disposed along a track, each of the plurality of UWB beacons configured to broadcast a unique beacon identification number. Aspects also include an onboard UWB control system disposed on a work train, the onboard UWB control system having a processing system in communication with radio-frequency communication device and an onboard UWB beacon. The onboard UWB beacon is configured to receive the unique beacon identification number from at least one of the plurality of UWB wayside beacons. The processing system is configured to determine a position of the work train on the track based upon known locations of the plurality of UWB wayside beacons, to transmit this position to a wayside Zone Controller, and to enforce a movement authority limit provided by the wayside zone controller.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for protecting work trains, the system comprising:
 a plurality of ultra-wideband (UWB) wayside beacons disposed along a track, each of the plurality of UWB beacons configured to broadcast a unique beacon identification number;   a onboard UWB control system disposed on a work train, the onboard UWB control system having a processing system in communication with radio-frequency (RF) communication device and an onboard UWB beacon, wherein the onboard UWB beacon is configured to receive the unique beacon identification number from at least one of the plurality of UWB wayside beacons, and   wherein the processing system is configured to determine a position of the work train on the track based upon known locations of the at least one of the plurality of UWB wayside beacons.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing system is further configured to transmit, via the RF communications device, the position of the work train on the track to a zone controller. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the processing system is further configured to receive, via the RF communications device, a movement authority limit from the zone controller. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the onboard UWB control system is a portable device that is not affixed to the work train. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the onboard UWB control system is affixed to the work train and is in communication with a braking system of the work train. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a wayside vital track vacancy detection system in communication with a zone controller, wherein the zone controller tracks a presence of a work train based on the track vacancy detection system. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing system is configured to obtain the known locations of the at least one of the plurality of UWB wayside beacons from a database stored on the onboard UWB control system. 
     
     
         8 . A method for protecting a work train using ultra-wideband (UWB) beacons, the method comprising:
 receiving, by an onboard UWB beacon disposed on the work train, unique beacon identification numbers transmitted by one or more wayside UWB beacons;   obtaining, by control unit disposed on the work train, a location of the one or more wayside UWB beacons;   determining, by the control unit, a location of the work train based at least in part on the location of the one or more wayside UWB beacons; and   transmitting, by the control unit, the location of the work train to a zone controller.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the location of the one or more wayside UWB beacons is obtained from a database stored in a memory of the control unit. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising receiving, by the control unit, a movement authority limit from the zone controller. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising enforcing, by the control unit, the movement authority limit by monitoring a change in the location of the work train and by responsively engaging a braking system of the work train. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the control unit and the onboard UWB beacon are part of an onboard UWB control system that is removably affixed to the work train. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein onboard UWB control system further includes a radio datalink that is configured to communicate with the zone controller. 
     
     
         14 . A system for protecting work trains, the system comprising:
 a plurality of ultra-wideband (UWB) wayside beacons disposed along a track, each of the plurality of UWB beacons configured to broadcast a unique beacon identification number;   a work train disposed on the track, the work train having an onboard UWB control system, the onboard UWB control system comprising:
 a control unit; 
 a radio-frequency (RF) communication device in communication with the control unit; 
 an onboard UWB beacon in communication with the control unit, wherein the onboard UWB beacon is configured to receive the unique beacon identification number from one or more of the plurality of UWB wayside beacons and wherein the control unit is configured to determine a position of the work train on the track based upon known locations of the one or more UWB wayside beacons; and 
   a zone controller configured to track a presence of the work train on the track using a vital track vacancy detection system disposed on the track.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the control unit is further configured to transmit, via the RF communications device, the position of the work train on the track to the zone controller. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the zone controller is further configured to provide a movement authority limit to the control unit. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the onboard UWB control system is a portable device that is not affixed to the work train. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the onboard UWB control system is affixed to the work train and is in communication with a braking system of the work train. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the control unit includes a memory having a database of known locations for each of the plurality of UWB wayside beacons.