Rail vehicle event triggering system and method

• US 9,908,546 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2015
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SmartDrive Systems, Inc. (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SmartDrive Systems, Inc. (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Palmer, Jason, Sljivar, Slaven, Freitas, Mark, Deninger, Daniel A., Ravari, Shahriar
• Primary Examiner(s): EL CHANTI, HUSSEIN A
• Application Number:
  US14/975,304
• Publication Number:
  US 20160200333A1
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 701 19
• CPC Class Codes: B61K 9/00 Railway vehicle profile gauges; Detecting or indicating overheating of components; Apparatus on locomotives or cars to indicate bad track sections; General design of track recording vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0072 On-board train data handling
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0081 On-board diagnosis or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0094 Recorders on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2201/00 Control methods
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 23/04 for monitoring the mechanical state of the route
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/021 Measuring and recording of train speed
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/025 Absolute localisation, e.g. providing geodetic coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/026 Relative localisation, e.g. using odometer
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/04 Automatic systems, e.g. controlled by train; Change-over to manual control
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/57 for vehicles or trains, e.g. trackside supervision of train conditions

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a system configured to detect rail vehicle events. Some or all of the system may be installed in a rail vehicle and/or be otherwise coupled with the rail vehicle. In some implementations, the system may detect rail vehicle events based on pre-determined rail vehicle event criteria sets. The system may include one or more sensors configured to generate output signals conveying information related to the rail vehicle. In some implementations, the system may detect rail vehicle events based on a comparison of the information conveyed by the output signals from the sensors and/or parameters determined based on the output signals to the pre-determined rail vehicle event criteria sets.

Claims

1. A system configured to detect rail vehicle events based on pre-determined rail vehicle event criteria sets, the system coupled to a rail vehicle, the system comprising:

one or more sensors configured to generate output signals conveying information related to operation of the rail vehicle; and

one or more physical computer processors configured by computer readable instructions to;

determine one or more rail vehicle parameters based on the output signals, the one or more rail vehicle parameters being related to the operation of the rail vehicle;

obtain one or more pre-determined rail vehicle event criteria sets, the one or more pre-determined rail vehicle event criteria sets including criteria sets associated with individual rail vehicle events, the one or more pre-determined rail vehicle event criteria sets including a first criteria set that corresponds to a first rail vehicle event, the first criteria set including a first individual criterion, wherein the first rail vehicle event is one or more of a collision with another vehicle, a collision with a pedestrian, a passing of a signal bar, slingshotting, an improper stop at a station, a failure to yield, or a sounding of a horn of the rail vehicle;

detect individual rail vehicle events based on the determined rail vehicle parameters and the obtained pre-determined rail vehicle event criteria sets by comparing the determined rail vehicle parameters to the criteria sets such that the first rail vehicle event is detected responsive to the determined parameters satisfying the first criteria set;

responsive to detection of the first rail vehicle event, record rail vehicle event information related to the operation of the rail vehicle during the first rail vehicle event; and

transmit, by a transceiver, the recorded rail vehicle event information from the rail vehicle to one or more remotely located computing devices for evaluation of the operation of the rail vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first criteria set further includes a second individual criterion, wherein the one or more sensors generate output signals conveying information related to communication systems of the rail vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physical computer processors are configured such that:

determining one or more rail vehicle parameters includes determining whether an Automatic Train Protection (ATP) overspeed system of the rail vehicle has been activated; and

a determination that the ATP overspeed system has been activated satisfies the first criteria set for the first rail vehicle event.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physical computer processors are configured such that:

determining one or more rail vehicle parameters includes determining whether an ATP bypass switch of the rail vehicle has been activated; and

a determination that the ATP bypass switch has been activated satisfies the first criteria set for the first rail vehicle event.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physical computer processors are configured such that:

determining one or more rail vehicle parameters includes determining whether a track brake has been activated; and

a determination that the track brake has been activated satisfies the first criteria set for the first rail vehicle event.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physical computer processors are configured such that:

determining one or more rail vehicle parameters includes determining whether an emergency brake of the rail vehicle has been activated; and

a determination that the emergency brake has been activated satisfies the first criteria set for the first rail vehicle event.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physical computer processors are configured such that:

determining one or more rail vehicle parameters includes determining whether an intercom call has been made via an intercom system of the rail vehicle; and

a determination that an intercom call has been made satisfies the first criteria set for the first rail vehicle event.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physical computer processors are configured such that:

determining one or more rail vehicle parameters includes determining whether a high horn of the rail vehicle has been activated; and

a determination that the high horn has been activated satisfies the first criteria set for the first rail vehicle event.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physical computer processors are configured such that:

determining one or more rail vehicle parameters includes determining whether a communications based train control (CBTC) system of the rail vehicle has been activated; and

a determination that the CBTC system has been activated satisfies the first criteria set for the first rail vehicle event.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physical computer processors are configured such that:

determining one or more rail vehicle parameters includes determining whether a penalty stop has occurred; and

a determination that a penalty stop has occurred satisfies the first criteria set for the first rail vehicle event.

11. The system of claim 1, where in the one or more physical computer processors are configured to determine one or more rail vehicle parameters related to slingshotting;

and

responsive to the parameters related to slingshotting satisfying one or more individual slingshotting criteria, determining that slingshotting has occurred.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physical computer processors are configured to determine one or more rail vehicle parameters related to an improper stop at a station;

and

responsive to the parameters related to an improper stop at a station satisfying one or more individual improper stop criteria, determining that an improper stop at a station has occurred.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physical computer processors are configured to filter detected rail vehicle events based on pre-determined geo-fences, wherein geo-fences are fixed virtual boundaries that define physical areas where one or more rail vehicle events are permissible or are not permissible.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more physical computer processors are configured to adjust individual criteria in the rail vehicle event criteria sets based on a physical location of the rail vehicle relative to the pre-determined geo-fences.

15. A method for detecting rail vehicle events based on pre-determined rail vehicle event criteria sets, the method comprising:

generating output signals conveying information related to operation of a rail vehicle;

determining one or more rail vehicle parameters based on the output signals, the one or more rail vehicle parameters being related to the operation of the rail vehicle;

obtaining one or more pre-determined rail vehicle event criteria sets, the one or more pre-determined rail vehicle event criteria sets including criteria sets associated with individual rail vehicle events, the one or more pre-determined rail vehicle event criteria sets including a first criteria set that corresponds to a first rail vehicle event, the first criteria set including a first individual criterion, wherein the first rail vehicle event is one or more of a collision with another vehicle, a collision with a pedestrian, a passing of a signal bar, slingshotting, an improper stop at a station, a failure to yield, or a sounding of a horn of the rail vehicle;

detecting individual rail vehicle events based on the determined rail vehicle parameters and the obtained pre-determined rail vehicle event criteria sets by comparing the determined rail vehicle parameters to the criteria sets such that the first rail vehicle event is detected responsive to the determined parameters satisfying the first criteria set;

responsive to detection of the first rail vehicle event, recording rail vehicle event information related to the operation of the rail vehicle during the first rail vehicle event; and

transmit, by a transceiver, the recorded rail vehicle event information from the rail vehicle to one or more remotely located computing devices for evaluation of the operation of the rail vehicle.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first criteria set further includes a second individual criterion, wherein the output signals convey information related to communication systems of the rail vehicle.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein:

determining one or more rail vehicle parameters includes determining whether an ATP overspeed system of the rail vehicle has been activated; and

a determination that the ATP overspeed system has been activated satisfies the first criteria set for the first rail vehicle event.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein:

determining one or more rail vehicle parameters includes determining whether an ATP bypass switch of the rail vehicle has been activated; and

a determination that the ATP bypass switch has been activated satisfies the first criteria set for the first rail vehicle event.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein:

determining one or more rail vehicle parameters includes determining whether a track brake has been activated; and

a determination that the track brake has been activated satisfies the first criteria set for the first rail vehicle event.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein:

determining one or more rail vehicle parameters includes determining whether an emergency brake of the rail vehicle has been activated; and

a determination that the emergency brake has been activated satisfies the first criteria set for the first rail vehicle event.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein:

determining one or more rail vehicle parameters includes determining whether an intercom call has been made via an intercom system of the rail vehicle; and

a determination that an intercom call has been made satisfies the first criteria set for the first rail vehicle event.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein:

determining one or more rail vehicle parameters includes determining whether a high horn of the rail vehicle has been activated; and

a determination that the high horn has been activated satisfies the first criteria set for the first rail vehicle event.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein:

determining one or more rail vehicle parameters includes determining whether a communications based train control (CBTC) system of the rail vehicle has been activated; and

a determination that the CBTC system has been activated satisfies the first criteria set for the first rail vehicle event.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein:

determining one or more rail vehicle parameters includes determining whether a penalty stop has occurred; and

a determination that a penalty stop has occurred satisfies the first criteria set for the first rail vehicle event.

25. The method of claim 15, wherein determining the one or more rail vehicle parameters includes determining one or more rail vehicle parameters related to slingshotting;

and

responsive to the parameters related to slingshotting satisfying one or more individual slingshotting criteria, determining that slingshotting has occurred.

26. The method of claim 15, wherein determining the one or more rail vehicle parameters includes determining one or more rail vehicle parameters related to an improper stop at a station;

and

responsive to the parameters related to an improper stop at a station satisfying one or more individual improper stop criteria, determining that an improper stop at a station has occurred.

27. The method of claim 15, further comprising filtering detected rail vehicle events based on pre-determined geo-fences, wherein geo-fences are fixed virtual boundaries that define physical areas where one or more rail vehicle events are permissible or are not permissible.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising adjusting individual criteria in the rail vehicle event criteria sets based on a physical location of the rail vehicle relative to the pre-determined geo-fences.