Self-driving single-car train system
OwnerJeremiah Heatoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A train system having a train element consisting of a single train car configured to travel along a rail system, and including an enclosed first use area and a flat car section. The flat car section includes a drive-on loading area configured to enable a vehicle to be driven onto the flat car section and then transported by the train car. Train element includes a drive system for moving the train element along the rail system and a control system for autonomously controlling the operation of the train car. A sensor system collects sensor data and provides the sensor data, as inputs, to the control system. Sensor data is used by the control system in operating the train car. Lastly, a power system independently powers the drive system and control system.
Claims13
A method for operating train elements comprising the steps of:
- A. providing an open rail system and two or more of said train elements;
- B. providing a trip plan for each of the two or more train elements that includes instructions for traveling along the open rail system to a first destination;
- C. moving the two or more train elements, independently of one another, along a portion of the rail system;
- and
- D. autonomously coupling the two or more train elements together to form a digital train according to instructions provided by the trip plans.
A method operating train elements comprising the steps of:
- A. providing a train system comprising one or more train elements, each train element consisting of a single train car that is configured to travel along an open rail system, the single train car comprising an enclosed first use area located at a first end of the train car and a flat car section, including a drive-on loading area that is configured to enable a vehicle to be driven onto and transported, located at a second end of the train car opposite the first use area;
- B. for each train element, providing a drive system configured to move the train element along the rail system;
- C. for each train element, providing a power system for independently powering the drive system;
- D. providing a control system configured to autonomously control the operation of the train system;
- E. providing a sensor system configured to collect sensor data and to provide sensor data, as inputs, to the control system that are used by the control system in operating the train system. F. operating the train system such that at least one of the one or more train elements is driven along the rail system by the drive system, which is powered by the power system, and while being controlled by the control system using sensor data from the sensor system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.