System and Method for Hyperloop Transponder Communication

Abstract

A solution is disclosed related to hyperloop vehicle communication using a transponder system. The transponder system comprises a plurality of transponder subnetwork controllers configured to provide one or more pluralities of transponders with connectivity. The pluralities of transponders are disposed at intervals such that the failure of a particular transponder is mitigated based on the interval of the transponders along with the connectivity of the supporting transponder subnetwork controllers. A hyperloop vehicle is configured to interact with the transponder system such that vehicle-side safety systems may rely on the transponder system as configured. The disclosed solution provides for enhanced traffic safety for hyperloop passengers and/or cargo, thus enabling green transportation.

1 . A transponder system for communicating with a hyperloop vehicle operating along a path of travel, the transponder system comprising:
 a first transponder subnetwork controller;   a second transponder subnetwork controller, the second transponder subnetwork controller being connected to the first transponder subnetwork controller;   a first plurality of transponders, the first plurality of transponders being connected to the first transponder subnetwork controller; and   a second plurality of transponders, the second plurality of transponders being connected to the second transponder subnetwork controller.   
     
     
         2 . The transponder system of  claim 1 , the transponder system further comprising:
 a third plurality of transponders, the third plurality of transponders being connected to the first transponder subnetwork controller; and   a fourth plurality of transponders, the fourth plurality of transponders being connected to the second transponder subnetwork controller.   
     
     
         3 . The transponder system of  claim 2 , wherein the first plurality of transponders and the second plurality of transponders are disposed at a first interval and the third plurality of transponders and the fourth plurality of transponders are disposed at a second interval. 
     
     
         4 . The transponder system of  claim 3 , wherein the first interval and the second interval are interposed along the path of travel. 
     
     
         5 . The transponder system of  claim 1 , the first plurality of transponders further comprising:
 a first transponder, wherein the first transponder subnetwork controller is configured to detect a first failure state of the first transponder, the first transponder subnetwork controller being configured to report the first failure state to the second transponder subnetwork controller, the first transponder subnetwork controller being further configured to communicate the first failure state to the third plurality of transponders.   
     
     
         6 . The transponder system of  claim 5 , wherein the second transponder subnetwork controller is configured to communicate the first failure state to the fourth plurality of transponders. 
     
     
         7 . The transponder system of  claim 5 , wherein the first transponder subnetwork controller is further configured to:
 communicate, via a high-speed communication network, the first failure state to a third-party server.   
     
     
         8 . The transponder system of  claim 7 , wherein the first transponder subnetwork controller is further configured to:
 detect a second failure state, the second failure state being associated with the second transponder subnetwork controller; and   communicate, via the high-speed network, the second failure state to the third-party server.   
     
     
         9 . The transponder system of  claim 7 , wherein the hyperloop vehicle data comprises vehicle ID data, vehicle velocity data, transponder ID data, time-to-live data, critical data, and timestamp data. 
     
     
         10 . The transponder system of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of transponders, the second plurality of transponders, the third plurality of transponders, and the fourth plurality of transponders are configured to communicate hyperloop vehicle data with the hyperloop vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . A hyperloop vehicle system configured to communicate with a transponder system disposed along a path of travel, the hyperloop vehicle system comprising:
 a memory;   a processor, the processor being configured to:
 determine transponder interval data, the transponder interval data indicating a plurality of positions of a first plurality of transponders, respectively, the first plurality of transponders comprising a first transponder; 
 determine a first braking distance; 
 communicate with the first transponder; and 
 detect whether the first transponder is in a failure state. 
   
     
     
         12 . The hyperloop vehicle system of  claim 11 , the processor being further configured to:
 report, if the first transponder is in the failure state, the failure state to a first transponder subnetwork controller, the first transponder subnetwork controller being connected to the first transponder.   
     
     
         13 . The hyperloop vehicle system of  claim 12 , wherein the reporting is performed using a high-speed network. 
     
     
         14 . The hyperloop vehicle system of  claim 12 , wherein the reporting is performed via a second plurality of transponders, the second plurality of transponders being connected to the first transponder subnetwork controller. 
     
     
         15 . The hyperloop vehicle system of  claim 11 , the processor being further configured to:
 determine, if the first transponder is in a failure state, a second braking distance, the second braking distance being based on the failure state and transponder interval data.   
     
     
         16 . A method for a transponder system to communicate with a hyperloop vehicle on a path of travel, the method comprising:
 determining, at a processor, transponder interval data, the transponder interval data indicating a plurality of positions of a first plurality of transponders, respectively, the first plurality of transponders comprising a first transponder;   determining, at the processor, a first braking distance;   communicating, at the processor, with the first transponder; and   detecting, at the processor, whether the first transponder is in a failure state.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , the method further comprising:
 reporting, at the processor and if the first transponder is in the failure state, the failure state to a first transponder subnetwork controller, the first transponder subnetwork controller being connected to the first transponder.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the reporting is performed using a high-speed network. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the reporting is performed via a second plurality of transponders, the second plurality of transponders being connected to the first transponder subnetwork controller. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , the method further comprising:
 determining, at the processor and if the first transponder is in a failure state, a second braking distance, the second braking distance being based on the failure state and transponder interval data.