# US 10,864,929 B2 · Railyard crew member helmet for use within a railyard > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,864,929 B2 - Document ID: US10864929B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/806,901 - Filed: 2020-03-02 - Published: 2020-06-25 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2018-02-12 - Assignees: Railserve, Inc. - Applicants: Railserve, Inc. - Inventors: Jon A. Preston; Chris Burgess; Jeff Chastine; John Roberts - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864929B2 ## CPC - B61L 23/06: for warning men working on the route - A41D 1/002: {adapted to accommodate electronic equipment (patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085)} - A41D 1/04: Vests, jerseys, sweaters or the like - A41D 13/01: with reflective or luminous safety means {(visible signalling arrangements G08B5/00)} - A42B 3/042: {Optical devices (night vision goggles G02B23/12)} - A42B 3/046: {Means for detecting hazards or accidents} - G01S 19/13: Receivers - G01S 19/14: specially adapted for specific applications - G01S 19/43: using carrier phase measurements, e.g. kinematic positioning; using long or short baseline interferometry - G01S 19/51: Relative positioning - G08B 5/004: {Reflective safety signalling devices attached on persons} - G08B 5/006: {Portable traffic signalling devices (G08B5/004 takes precedence; emergency signalling devices to be placed on roads or vehicles B60Q7/00)} - G08B 5/36: using visible light sources - G08B 25/10: using wireless transmission systems {(G08B25/009 takes precedence)} - H04N 7/185: {from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control} - H04N 23/20: for generating image signals from infrared radiation only - A41D 2600/20: for working activities - B61L: GUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC (brakes or auxiliary equipment B61H, B61K; point or crossing construction E01B) - A41D: OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES - A42B: HATS; HEAD COVERINGS (headbands A41D20/00; head-scarves A41D23/00) - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract The present invention relates to a smart helmet for use by railyard personnel at a railyard. The smart helmet may utilize many safety features, such as improved visibility, a real-time camera, a Wi-Fi antenna, an environmental monitor, high-accuracy location tracking, tracking the “state” of the railyard crew member, real-time communication, and mobile power. Each of these features may be incorporated with the smart helmet. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A helmet for a railyard crew member for use in a railyard, the helmet comprising: a helmet configured to be worn on a head of a railyard crew member; a helmet ring that surrounds and encircles a lower rim of the helmet; a helmet processor that includes a processing unit and a system memory to store and execute software instructions, wherein the helmet processor is in communication with and connected to a railyard site computer that provides a central analysis and a display site for the railyard; a real-time camera system located on the helmet ring, the real-time camera system connected to the helmet processor, the real-time camera system including a still picture capability and a video capability that captures and stores a plurality of images and videos on the helmet processor, wherein the real-time camera system provides a real-time video of current operations and activities from the helmet and sends the real-time video to the railyard site computer; an LED lighting system connected to the helmet processor, the LED lighting system including one or more LED lighting elements located along a periphery of the helmet ring; a high-accuracy location system connected to the helmet processor, the high-accuracy location system including a real-time kinematics (RTK) module and a GPS antenna located on the helmet ring, wherein the high-accuracy location system utilizes a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) and the RTK module to enable centimeter location accuracy of the railyard crew member for the high-accuracy location system; and wherein the railyard site computer receives and displays data of the railyard crew member from the real-time camera system and the high-accuracy location system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The helmet of claim 1, wherein the helmet ring includes an inner ring and an outer ring, the inner ring having a smaller circumference than the outer ring such that the inner ring is configured and sized to fit around the lower rim of the helmet. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The helmet of claim 2, wherein the inner ring and the outer ring are connected together by one or more attachment mechanisms. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The helmet of claim 2, wherein the inner ring and the outer ring form a ring channel that extends around the helmet ring, the ring channel holding a plurality of various electronics associated with the helmet and connected to the helmet processor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The helmet of claim 1, wherein the one or more LED lighting elements include a plurality of LEDs. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The helmet of claim 1, wherein the high-accuracy location system determines a position of the railyard crew member with respect to a locomotive and one or more railcars in the railyard. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The helmet of claim 6, wherein the high-accuracy location system determines a height of the railyard crew member with respect to the ground, and further wherein if the determined height is below a certain height, the railyard crew member will be determined to be on the ground and potentially in a dangerous condition, and if the determined height is above the certain height, the railyard crew member will be determined to be riding on one of the railcars and in a safe condition. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The helmet of claim 1, wherein the real-time camera system includes an infrared camera. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The helmet of claim 1, wherein the real-time camera system is connected wirelessly to the railyard site computer such that the real-time camera system streams real-time video to the railyard site computer for display and storage. ### Claim 10 A helmet for a railyard crew member for use in a railyard, the helmet comprising: a helmet configured to be worn on a head of a railyard crew member; a helmet ring that surrounds and encircles a lower rim of the helmet, the helmet ring including an inner ring and an outer ring, the inner ring having a smaller circumference than the outer ring such that the inner ring is configured and sized to fit around the lower rim of the helmet; a helmet processor that includes a processing unit and a system memory to store and execute software instructions, wherein the helmet processor is in communication with and connected to a railyard site computer that provides a central analysis and a display site for the railyard, wherein the inner ring and the outer ring form a ring channel that extends around the helmet ring, the ring channel holding a plurality of various electronics associated with the helmet and connected to the helmet processor; a Wi-Fi antenna connected to the helmet processor to communicate to broadcast and stream data immediately to a supervisor in a local monitoring station or to a locomotive; an LED lighting system connected to the helmet processor, the LED lighting system including one or more LED lighting elements located along a periphery of the helmet ring, the one or more LED lighting elements including a plurality of LEDs; a real-time camera system connected to the helmet processor and located within the ring channel, the real-time camera system including a still picture capability and a video capability that captures and stores a plurality of images and videos on the helmet processor, wherein the real-time camera system provides a real-time video of current operations and activities from the helmet and sends the real-time video to the railyard site computer; and a high-accuracy location system connected to the helmet processor, the high-accuracy location system including a real-time kinematics (RTK) module and a GPS antenna located on the helmet ring, wherein the high-accuracy location system utilizes a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) and the RTK module to enable centimeter location accuracy of the railyard crew member for the high-accuracy location system, wherein the high-accuracy location system includes a locomotive RTK module and a locomotive GPS antenna for a locomotive at the railyard to provide centimeter location accuracy of the locomotive, wherein the railyard site computer receives and displays data of the railyard crew member and the locomotive from the real-time camera system and the high-accuracy location system. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The helmet of claim 10, wherein the inner ring and the outer ring are connected together by one or more attachment mechanisms. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The helmet of claim 10, wherein the high-accuracy location system determines a position of the railyard crew member with respect to one or more railcars in the railyard. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The helmet of claim 12, wherein the high-accuracy location system determines a height of the railyard crew member with respect to the ground, and further wherein if the determined height is below a certain height, the railyard crew member will be determined to be on the ground and potentially in a dangerous condition, and if the determined height is above the certain height, the railyard crew member will be determined to be riding on one of the railcars and in a safe condition. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The helmet of claim 10, wherein the real-time camera system includes an infrared camera. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The helmet of claim 10, wherein the real-time camera system is connected wirelessly to the railyard site computer such that the real-time camera system streams real-time video to the railyard site computer for display and storage. ### Claim 16 A helmet for a railyard crew member for use in a railyard, the helmet comprising: a helmet configured to be worn on a head of a railyard crew member; a helmet ring that surrounds and encircles a lower rim of the helmet, the helmet ring including an inner ring and an outer ring, the inner ring having a smaller circumference than the outer ring such that the inner ring is configured and sized to fit around the lower rim of the helmet, wherein the inner ring and the outer ring are connected together by one or more attachment mechanisms; a helmet processor that includes a processing unit and a system memory to store and execute software instructions, wherein the helmet processor is in communication with and connected to a railyard site computer that provides a central analysis and a display site for the railyard; an LED lighting system connected to the helmet processor, the LED lighting system including one or more LED lighting elements located along a periphery of the helmet ring, the one or more LED lighting elements including a plurality of LEDs; a real-time camera system connected to the helmet processor and located on the helmet ring, the real-time camera system including a still picture capability and a video capability that captures and stores a plurality of images and videos on the helmet processor, wherein the real-time camera system is connected wirelessly to the railyard site computer such that the real-time camera system provides a real-time video of current operations and activities from the helmet and sends the real-time video to the railyard site computer for display and storage; and a high-accuracy location system connected to the helmet processor, the high-accuracy location system including a real-time kinematics (RTK) module and a GPS antenna located on the helmet ring, wherein the high-accuracy location system utilizes a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) and the RTK module to enable centimeter location accuracy of the railyard crew member for the high-accuracy location system, wherein the railyard site computer receives and displays data of the railyard crew member from the real-time camera system and the high-accuracy location system. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The helmet of claim 16, wherein the inner ring and the outer ring form a ring channel that extends around the helmet ring, the ring channel holding a plurality of various electronics associated with the helmet and connected to the helmet processor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The helmet of claim 16, wherein the plurality of LEDs blink for a dangerous condition in the railyard. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The helmet of claim 16, wherein the plurality of LEDs include various colors, such that red LEDs are used for a dangerous condition in the railyard and green LEDs are used for a clear condition in the railyard. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The helmet of claim 16, wherein the real-time camera system includes an infrared camera.