Patent ID: 6831573
Filing Date: 2004-12-14
Classification: B61L

Abstract:
A system for preventing train accidents, said system comprising:a train disposed on a railway, said train including a computer, a first GPS unit and a status receiver; a safety vehicle disposed ahead of said train on said railway, said safety vehicle including a second GPS unit and a status transmitter, wherein: said first GPS unit is adapted to continuously receive first location information associated with said train and is adapted to continuously transmit said first location information to said computer; said second GPS unit is adapted to continuously receive second location information associated with said safety vehicle and is adapted to continuously transmit said second location information to said computer; said status transmitter is adapted to transmit a status signal to said status receiver, and said status receiver is in communication with said computer; said computer is adapted to continuously calculate a location of said train based on said first location information and is adapted to continuously calculate a location of said safety vehicle based on said second location information; said computer is adapted to generate commands controlling at least one of acceleration and deceleration of said train or said safety vehicle in order to maintain a desired distance between said train and said safety vehicle; and said computer is adapted to detect said status signal and is adapted to generate a command to stop said train if said computer fails to detect said status signal.