System and method for remote control of locomotives

A system for remote control of locomotives, comprising:

• a time division multiple access network;
• at least one locomotive equipped so as to be operatively controlled by a locomotive control unit suitable for transmitting and receiving information via said network;
• at least one operator control unit suitable for transmitting and receiving information via the network, wherein the locomotive control unit and operator control unit each will only transmit in a defined period of time;
• and
• a reliable distributed communication mode link using an uncorrelated time sequence that does not interfere with said time division multiple access network.

A method for determining if a remotely controllable locomotive is within a region covered by the infrastructure of a rail yard, comprising:

• determining the locomotive's current geographical position based upon a latitude/longitude signal derived from a navigational device;
• transmitting, from each repeater in the railroad yard a yard information message;
• receiving, with a locomotive radio associated with a locomotive control unit,
• the yard information message;
• upon completely receiving a yard information message, performing an error
• check to confirm the integrity of the information;
• and
• mathematically processing the data and comparing it to the current geographical position to determine if the locomotive is within the defined area of the yard.

A method to improve system reliability for radio controlled, remote operation of locomotives, comprising:

• providing a repeater coordination server having a plurality of repeaters
• associated therewith, at least one of said repeaters being in communication with a control unit;
• determining a received signal strength and producing an indication thereof for
• each repeater's communication with the control unit;
• and
• dynamically routing packets between the plurality of repeaters based on the
• received signal strength.

A method for communicating with an operator control unit in a system for remote control of locomotives, comprising:

• providing a simulated radio link for communication with an operator control
• unit, said link using weak, over the air, signals that do not interfere with normally operating units within the system;
• and
• transmitting information to the operator control unit over the simulated radio link.