Individual transport control and communication system

• US 7,286,934 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2002
• Issued: 10/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cascade Engineering Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cascade Engineering Incorporated
• Inventors: Gaegauf, Benedikt J., Ammond, P. Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu; Yonel
• Application Number:
  US10/493,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20050090981A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,043 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701 23- 24, 701300-302, 701/96, 340901-904, 340/425.5, 340435-436, 340/426, 342/29, 342/41, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 180/167, 180/170
• US Class Current: 701/301
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/046 involving external transmission of data to or from the vehicle, e.g. via telemetry, satellite, Global Positioning System [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/048 displaying data transmitted between vehicles, e.g. for platooning, control of inter-vehicle distance
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/04 Automatic systems, e.g. controlled by train; Change-over to manual control

Abstract

An automated transportation (10) system includes a plurality of vehicles (22) adapted to travel along a pathway, and a monitoring system (70) located within each vehicle and adapted to monitor a location and a speed between an associated vehicle and the pathway. The automated transportation system (10) also includes a transmitter (72) located within each vehicle (22) and adapted to transmit a signal that includes data on the location and the speed monitored, and a receiver (76) located within each vehicle and adapted to receive the signal from each of the other vehicles. The automated transportation system (10) further includes a controller (78) located within each vehicle and adapted to interpret the signal received by the receiver and control the associated vehicle to provide proper spacing between the remaining vehicles to avoid collisions therebetween and maximize throughput of the vehicles along the pathway.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a plurality of vehicles along a pathway, comprising:

monitoring a location and a speed of each of a plurality of vehicles with respect to a pathway that includes a track system adapted to support the plurality of vehicles, wherein the monitoring is conducted via an on-board monitoring system within each vehicle;

transmitting a signal that includes the location and the speed of each vehicle directly from each vehicle to each of the other vehicles via an on-board transmitter within each vehicle;

receiving the signal directly from the other vehicles via an on-board receiver within each vehicle; and

controlling each of the vehicles via an on-board controller within each vehicle based on the signal received from each of the other vehicles to provide proper spacing between the vehicles to avoid collisions therebetween and maximize throughput of the vehicles along the pathway.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of monitoring, transmitting and receiving includes monitoring, transmitting and receiving the acceleration/deceleration of each vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the steps of monitoring, transmitting and receiving includes monitoring, transmitting and receiving the application of brakes within each vehicle.

7. The method of claim 6, further including:

controlling the location of each of the vehicles within the track system, wherein the track system includes at least two track members from which the vehicles can be alternatively supported.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the steps of monitoring, transmitting and receiving includes monitoring, transmitting and receiving a switching state of each vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the transmitting and receiving steps are completed via a wireless communication system.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes controlling at least four vehicles.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of monitoring, transmitting and receiving includes monitoring, transmitting and receiving the acceleration/deceleration of each vehicle.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of monitoring, transmitting and receiving includes monitoring, transmitting and receiving the application of brakes within each vehicle.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting and receiving steps are completed via a wireless communication system.

2. An automated transportation system, comprising:

a plurality of vehicles adapted to travel along a pathway, wherein the pathway includes a track system adapted to support the plurality of vehicles;

a monitoring system located within each vehicle and adapted to monitor a location and a speed between an associated vehicle and the pathway;

a transmitter located within each vehicle and adapted to transmit a signal that includes data on the location and the speed monitored;

a receiver located within each vehicle and adapted to receive the signal from each vehicle;

a controller located within each vehicle and adapted to interpret the signal received by the receiver and control the associated vehicle based on the signal received from each of the other vehicles to provide proper spacing between the remaining vehicles to avoid collisions therebetween and maximize throughput of the vehicles along the pathway.

16. The automated transportation system of claim 2, wherein the monitoring system is further adapted to monitor the distance between the associated vehicle and a vehicle immediately preceding the associated vehicle.

17. The automated transportation system of claim 16, wherein the monitoring system is further adapted to monitor the acceleration/deceleration between the associated vehicle and the vehicle immediately preceding the associated vehicle.

18. The automated transportation system of claim 17, wherein the transmitter and receiver are wireless communication devices.

19. The automated transportation system of claim 18, wherein the pathway includes a track system adapted to support the plurality of vehicles.

20. The automated transportation system of claim 19, wherein the track system includes at least two track member adapted to alternatively support the plurality of vehicles.

21. The automated transportation system of claim 20, wherein each vehicle is adapted to switch between the two track members, and wherein the monitoring system is further adapted to monitor a switching state of the associated vehicle.

22. The automated transportation system of claim 2, wherein the monitoring system is further adapted to monitor the acceleration/deceleration between the associated vehicle and the vehicle immediately preceding the associated vehicle.

23. The automated transportation system of claim 2, wherein the transmitter and receiver are wireless communication devices.

24. The automated transportation system of claim 2, wherein the track system includes at least two track members adapted to alternatively support the plurality of vehicles.

25. The automated transportation system of claim 24, wherein the each vehicle is adapted to switch between the two track members, and wherein the monitoring system is further adapted to monitor a switching state of the associated vehicle.

3. A method for controlling a plurality of vehicles along a pathway, comprising:

monitoring a speed and a location of each of a plurality of vehicles with respect to a pathway via a monitoring system located within each vehicle;

transmitting a primary signal that includes the speed and location of each vehicle directly from each vehicle to each of the other vehicles via a transmitter located within each vehicle;

receiving the primary signal directly from the other vehicles via a receiver located within each vehicle;

receiving the primary signal at a central controller;

receiving a secondary signal from the central controller via the receiver located within each vehicle;

controlling each of the vehicles via a vehicle control system located within each vehicle based on the primary signal received from each of the other vehicles to provide proper spacing between the vehicles to avoid collisions therebetween and maximize throughput of the vehicles along the pathway; and

controlling each of the vehicles via the vehicle control system located within each vehicle based on the secondary signal received from the central controller if the primary signal is interfered with to provide proper spacing between the vehicles to avoid collisions therebetween and maximize throughput of the vehicles along the pathway.

26. The method of claim 3, further including:

comparing the primary and secondary signals via the vehicle control system located within each vehicle prior to controlling the associated vehicle; and

determining the accuracy of the primary and secondary signals based on the comparison.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the steps of monitoring, transmitting and receiving include monitoring, transmitting and receiving a location of each vehicle with respect to the pathway.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the steps of monitoring, transmitting, and receiving include monitoring, transmitting, and receiving an acceleration/deceleration of each vehicle with respect to a vehicle immediately preceding each vehicle.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the steps of monitoring, transmitting and receiving include monitoring, transmitting and receiving the application of brakes within each of the vehicles.

30. The method of claim 29, further including:

controlling the location of each of the vehicles within a track system, wherein the track system includes at least two track members which can alternatively support the vehicles.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the steps of monitoring, transmitting and receiving include monitoring, transmitting and receiving a switching state of each vehicle.

32. The method of claim 3, wherein the transmitting and receiving steps are completed via a wireless communication system.

33. The method of claim 3 wherein the steps of monitoring, transmitting and receiving include monitoring, transmitting and receiving the location of each vehicle with respect to the pathway.

34. The method of claim 3, wherein the steps of monitoring, transmitting, and receiving include monitoring, transmitting, and receiving an acceleration/deceleration of each vehicle with respect to a vehicle immediately preceding each vehicle.

35. The method of claim 3, wherein the steps of monitoring, transmitting and receiving include monitoring, transmitting and receiving the application of brakes within each of the vehicles.

36. The method of claim 3, further including:

controlling the location of each of the vehicles within a track system, wherein the track system includes at least two track members which can alternatively support the vehicles.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the steps of monitoring, transmitting and receiving include monitoring, transmitting and receiving a switching state of each vehicle.

4. An automated transportation system, comprising:

a plurality of vehicles adapted to travel along a pathway;

a monitoring system located within each vehicle and adapted to monitor a speed and a location with respect to the pathway;

a transmitter located within each vehicle and adapted to transmit a primary signal that includes data on the speed and the location monitored;

a central controller adapted to receive the primary signal from each vehicle, and adapted to interpret the primary signal received and transmit a secondary signal;

a receiver located within each vehicle and adapted to receive the primary and secondary signals from each vehicle and the central controller, respectively; and

a vehicle control system located within each vehicle and adapted to interpret the primary signal received by the receiver from each of the other vehicles and control the associated vehicle to provide proper spacing between the remaining vehicles to avoid collisions therebetween and maximize throughput of the vehicles along the pathway, and further adapted to interpret the secondary signal received by the receiver from the central controller if the primary signal is interfered with to provide proper spacing between the remaining vehicles to avoid collisions therebetween and maximize throughput of the vehicles along the pathway.

38. The automated transportation system of claim 4, wherein the monitoring system is further adapted to monitor an acceleration/deceleration between the associated vehicle with respect to a vehicle immediately preceding the associated vehicle.

39. The automated transportation system of claim 38, wherein the monitoring system is further adapted to monitor the distance between the associated vehicle and the vehicle immediately preceding the associated vehicle.

40. The automated transportation system of claim 39, wherein the monitoring system is further adapted to monitor the application of brakes within the associated vehicle.

41. The automated transportation system of claim 40, wherein the vehicle control system of each vehicle is adapted to compare the primary and secondary signals and determine the accuracy of the primary and secondary signals.

42. The automated transportation system of claim 41, wherein the transmitter and receiver are wireless communication devices.

43. The automated transportation system of claim 42, wherein the pathway includes a track system adapted to support the plurality of vehicles.

44. The automated transportation system of claim 43, wherein the track system includes at least two track members adapted to alternatively support the plurality of vehicles.

45. The automated transportation system of claim 44, wherein the each vehicle is adapted to switch between the two track members, and wherein the monitoring system is further adapted to monitor a switching state of the associated vehicle.

46. The automated transportation system of claim 4, wherein the vehicle control system of each vehicle is adapted to compare the primary and secondary signals and determine the accuracy of the primary and secondary signals.

47. The automated transportation system of claim 4, wherein the transmitter and receiver are wireless communication devices.

48. The automated transportation system of claim 4, wherein the pathway includes a track system adapted to support the plurality of vehicles.

49. The automated transportation system of claim 48, wherein the track system includes at least two track member adapted to alternatively support the plurality of vehicles.

50. The automated transportation system of claim 49, wherein the each vehicle is adapted to switch between the two track members, and wherein the monitoring system is further adapted to monitor a switching state of the associated vehicle.

51. The automated transportation system of claim 4, wherein the monitoring system is further adapted to monitor the distance between the associated vehicle and a vehicle immediately preceding the associated vehicle.

52. The automated transportation system of claim 4, wherein the monitoring system is further adapted to monitor the application of brakes within the associated vehicle.

13. A method for controlling a plurality of vehicles along a pathway, comprising:

monitoring a location and a speed of each of a plurality of vehicles with respect to a pathway via an on-board monitoring system within each vehicle;

transmitting a signal that includes the location and the speed of each vehicle directly from each vehicle to each of the other vehicles via an on-board transmitter within each vehicle;

receiving the signal directly from the other vehicles via an on-board receiver within each vehicle;

controlling each of the vehicles via an on-board controller within each vehicle based on the signal received from each of the other vehicles to provide proper spacing between the vehicles to avoid collisions therebetween and maximize throughput of the vehicles along the pathway; and

controlling the location of each of the vehicles within a track system, wherein the track system includes at least two track members from which the vehicles can be alternatively supported.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the steps of monitoring, transmitting and receiving includes monitoring, transmitting and receiving a switching state of each vehicle.