Gate crossing arm collision detection system and method

1. A detection and warning system for a railroad crossing, the system comprising:

a sensor configured to be mounted on an underside of a gate arm of a railroad crossing gate to detect a presence of a vehicle or other object that is obstructing the railroad crossing, the sensor including a sensing strip;

a sensing circuit coupled to the sensing strip to detect an event of contact being made between the vehicle or the object and the sensing strip of the sensor; and

a communication interface coupled to the sensor,

wherein in response to a detection of the vehicle or the other object, the communication interface relays to a locomotive approaching the railroad crossing a warning signal indicative of a possible collision on the railroad crossing with the vehicle or the other object,

wherein the communication interface to relay the warning signal to a control interface of a locomotive engine, and

wherein the sensing circuit is configured to operate in a fail-safe mode in that a reduce speed command is broadcast to all oncoming trains in case of a transmit condition when a collision or a circuit compromise is detected and no command is broadcast in case of a do not transmit condition when no collision is detected or the sensing circuit is functioning properly.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a touch sensor capable of detecting an object in response to an event of contact with the vehicle or the other object.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the touch sensor is an edge touch sensor.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensing strip is configured to be mounted on the underside of the gate arm of the railroad crossing gate, wherein a plurality of pairs of a positive sensor strip and a negative sensor strip are provided side-by-side from an array of edge crush collision sensors, and wherein a first terminal connects all the positive sensor strips to a controller and a second terminal connects all the negative sensor strips to a ground GND.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the warning signal defines an advance notice of a possible collision to a locomotive engine operator.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the communication interface includes a track circuit to encode the warning signal for sending a warning to the locomotive engine.

7. A method of detecting a vehicle or other object in a railroad crossing and providing a warning, the method comprising:

detecting a presence of the vehicle or the other object in the railroad crossing with a sensor configured to be mounted on an underside of a gate arm of a railroad crossing gate; and

relaying a warning signal using a communication interface coupled to the sensor in response to detecting the presence of the vehicle or the other object, the warning signal indicative of a possible collision on the railroad crossing with the vehicle or the other object; and

wirelessly relaying the warning signal to a wireless control interface of a locomotive engine, wherein the warning signal defines an advance notice of the possible collision to a locomotive engine operator; and

using a sensing circuit that is configured to operate in a fail-safe mode in that a reduce speed command is sent to all oncoming trains, wherein the sensing circuit is coupled to a sensing strip to detect an event of contact being made between the vehicle or the object and the sensing strip of the sensor.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein detecting a presence of the vehicle or the other object further comprising:

detecting with a touch sensor an object in response to an event of contact with the vehicle or the other object.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the touch sensor is an edge touch sensor.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the communication interface includes a track circuit to encode the warning signal for sending a warning to the locomotive engine.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein detecting a presence of the vehicle or the other object further comprising:

using the sensing strip configured to be mounted on the underside of the gate arm of the railroad crossing gate.

12. A detection and warning system for a railroad crossing, the system comprising:

an edge touch sensor coupled to a sensing strip and a sensing circuit;

wherein the sensing strip is configured to be mounted on an underside of a gate arm of a railroad crossing gate, and

wherein the sensing strip is coupled to the sensing circuit to detect an event of contact being made between a vehicle or other object and the sensing strip of the edge touch sensor; and

a wireless communication interface coupled to the edge touch sensor,

wherein in response to a detection of the event of contact, the wireless communication interface wirelessly relays to a wireless control interface of a locomotive engine of a train approaching the railroad crossing a warning to a locomotive engineer to stop the train before the crossing, and

wherein the sensing circuit is configured to operate in a fail-safe mode in that a reduce speed command is broadcast to all oncoming trains in case of a transmit condition when a collision or a circuit compromise is detected and no command is broadcast in case of a do not transmit condition when no collision is detected or the sensing circuit is functioning properly.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the wireless communication interface is configured to wirelessly relay to the wireless control interface a warning signal for applying the brakes of the train automatically without waiting or involving the locomotive engineer.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein a computer of the train automatically calculates a braking curve and slows the train down without an input from the locomotive engineer.