Guideway mounted vehicle localization and alignment system and method

A system comprising:

• a marker along a guideway, the marker including a metasurface plate comprising:
• a first portion having a first retroreflector element;
• a second portion having a second retroreflector element;
• a third portion having a third retroreflector element;
• a first absorbing element between the first retroreflector element and the second retroreflector element;
• and
• a first diffused element between the first retroreflector element and the first absorbing element;
• a first sensor on a first end of a vehicle, and configured to detect a radio frequency (RF) signature of the marker, wherein the first sensor is a radar detection device;
• a second sensor on the first end of the vehicle, and configured to detect another signature of the marker, wherein the second sensor is a camera, a laser imaging detection and ranging (LIDAR) device or an infrared radiation (IR) sensor detection device;
• and
• an on-board controller coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor, and configured to determine a position of the vehicle on the guideway or a distance from the position of the vehicle to a stopping location along the guideway based on information received from the first sensor and the second sensor, the information including the RF signature and the another signature.

A method, comprising:

• detecting, by a first sensor, a radio frequency (RF) signature of at least a marker, the first sensor being on a first end of a vehicle along a guideway, and being a radar detection device, and the marker being a metasurface plate including at least a first retroreflector element, a first absorbing element, and a first diffused element between the first retroreflector element and the first absorbing element;
• detecting, by a second sensor, another signature of at least the marker, the second sensor being on the first end of the vehicle or a second end of the vehicle opposite from the first end of the vehicle, and the second sensor being another radar detection device, a camera, a laser imaging detection and ranging (LIDAR) device or an infrared radiation (IR) sensor detection device;
• and
• determining, by an on-board controller, at least:
• a position of the vehicle on the guideway based on information received from at least the first sensor or the second sensor, or
• a distance from the position of the vehicle to a stopping location along the guideway based on the information received from the first sensor or the second sensor, the marker being located at the stopping location, the information including the RF signature and the another signature.