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Abstract

A method and system are disclosed for improved collision avoidance of two locomotives by periodically receiving on each locomotive digitally encoded data to determine its geographical location, speed and direction of travel by means of an onboard global positioning system receiver. A first data frame including this data is created on each locomotive. Each locomotive periodically broadcasts to the other digitally encoded signals containing the first data frame. A second data frame is created on each locomotive from the received digital signals from the other locomotive containing the second locomotive's geographical location, speed and direction of travel and locomotive identification. The data frames are processed and displayed onboard each locomotive to determine if the other is a collision candidate. If so, collision avoidance procedures are automatically initiated, including initiation of aural and visual alarms at a first selected distance and the reduction of speed at a second selected, closer distance. The speed reduction includes the application of the locomotive and/or train brakes and throttle reduction to arrest locomotive or train movement to complete cessation. The identity of each locomotive is established with an onboard operator input device and broadcast with other of the digitally encoded data.

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First Claim