ANTI-COLLISION SYSTEM FOR RAILWAYS

• US 20100268466A1
• Filed: 08/31/2009
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Inventors: Amutham, Velayutham Kadal
• Application Number:
  US12/550,459
• Publication Number:
  US 20100268466A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/301
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 23/00 Control, warning or like safety means along the route or between vehicles or trains
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/025 Absolute localisation, e.g. providing geodetic coordinates

Abstract

An anti-collision system and method for railed vehicles are provided. This system can include a camera module, a processor, and a transceiver. The camera module is configured to record images of the environment around a first railed vehicle. The processor is configured to receive an image from the camera and extract a detected feature from the image. The detected feature is then compared to features stored in a database having an associated unique location on the rail system. Should the detected feature be found within the database, the unique location on the rail system is transmitted via a transmitter as the present location of the railed vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of preventing a collision between a first and a second railed vehicle, the method comprising:

taking a first image of an environment adjacent to the railed vehicle;

extracting at least one feature from the first image;

comparing the at least one feature with a plurality of features within a feature database to determine if there is a correlation between the at least one feature and at least one of the plurality of features within a feature database; and

if there is a correlation between the extracted feature and the at least one of the plurality of features within a feature database, assigning a location data to the first railed vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein assigning a location data to the first railed vehicle is assigning location data previously associated with the at least one of the plurality of features within the feature database.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the location data of the first railed vehicle via a wireless signal.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

calculating a velocity of the first railed vehicle and transmitting the velocity via a wireless signal.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving the wireless signal containing the location data; and

calculating a risk of an accident based on the location data.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

performing an action based on the calculated risk of an accident.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein taking an action based on the calculated risk is one of initiating a warning and applying a brake.

8. The method according to claim 3 further comprising:

calculating a distance between a predetermined location and the first railed vehicle.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein calculating a distance between a predetermined location and the first railed vehicle is calculating the distance between the first railed vehicle and the second railed vehicle.

10. The method according to claim 3 further comprising:

calculating an estimated time of arrival of the first railed vehicle to a predetermined location.

11. A system for preventing the collision of a first and a second railed vehicle, the system comprising:

a processor;

a transmitter coupled to the processor; and

a camera module configured to record images of an environment around the first railed vehicle, wherein the processor is configured to receive an image from the camera module and extract a detected feature from the image, said processor being further configured to compare the detected feature to features stored in a database and assign an associated location data to the first railed vehicle if a correlation exists between the extracted feature and at least one of the features stored in the database.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein each feature stored in the database has an associated one of a plurality of locations on the rail system.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the transmitter transmits the associated location data.

14. The system according to claim 11, further comprising a receiver which monitors signals transmitted by the second railed vehicle.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the processor is configured receive the signals transmitted by the second railed vehicle and to calculate a probability if the second railed vehicle represents a threat to the first railed vehicle.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein the detected feature comprises at least one of a color, an alphanumeric symbol, a barcode, and a known landmark.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein the processor module comprises a memory and a stored database of image features.

18. The system according to claim 11, wherein the features stored include associated therewith unique location information indicative of one of an entire length of rail or a specific unique location on a specific section of rail.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein said second railed vehicle comprises:

a second processor;

a second transmitter; and

a second camera module configured to record images of an environment around the second railed vehicle, wherein the second processor is configured to receive a second image from the second camera module and extract a second detected feature from the second image, said second processor being further configured to compare the second detected feature to features stored in a second database and assign an associated second location data to the second vehicle if a correlation between the extracted feature and at least one of the features stored in the second database.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the second transmitter transmits the associated second location data.