Ultra-wideband based vital train tracking

1. A system for vital train tracking using ultra-wideband (UWB) beacons, the system comprising:

a train disposed on a track, the train having at least two onboard UWB beacons configured to broadcast a unique beacon identification number;

a plurality of wayside UWB beacons disposed along the track, a subset of the plurality of wayside UWB beacons being connected to a wayside communications network, wherein at least two of the plurality of wayside UWB beacons are configured to receive the unique beacon identification number; and

a central computer in communication with the wayside communications network, wherein the central computer is configured to determine a position of the train on the track based at least in part upon known location of the at least two wayside UWB beacons,

wherein the train includes a first car that includes the at least two onboard UWB beacons and a second car that includes two additional onboard UWB beacons, wherein the first car is disposed on one end of the train and the second car is disposed on an opposing end of the train.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of wayside UWB beacons not in the subset are located within a communications range of at least two of the plurality of wayside UWB beacons in the subset.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a track vacancy detection system disposed on the track, the track vacancy detection system in communication with the central computer.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the central computer is configured to detect a presence of the train on the track using both the track vacancy detection system and the plurality of wayside UWB beacons.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the track is divided into a plurality of zones and wherein the track vacancy detection system consists of one or more sensors disposed only at an entry point into each of the plurality of zones.

6. A method for vital train tracking using ultra-wideband (UWB) beacons, the method comprising:

receiving, by at least two wayside UWB beacons, a unique beacon identification number transmitted by an onboard UWB beacon disposed on a train;

transmitting, by each of the at least two wayside UWB beacons to a central computer, the unique beacon identification number and an identification number associated with the wayside UWB beacon;

calculating, by the central computer, a position of the train on the track based at least in part upon known location of the at least two wayside UWB beacons, and

receiving, by the central computer, a signal from a track vacancy detection equipment disposed on the track indicating a presence of the train on the track, wherein the central computer is configured to detect a presence of the train on the track using both the track vacancy detection equipment and the at least two wayside UWB beacons.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the least two wayside UWB beacons are part of a plurality of wayside UWB beacons disposed along the track and wherein a subset of the plurality of wayside UWB beacons are connected to a wayside communications network.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of wayside UWB beacons not in the subset are located within a communications range of at least two of the plurality of wayside UWB beacons in the subset.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the train includes a first car that includes at least two onboard UWB beacons and a second car that includes two additional onboard UWB beacons, wherein the first car is disposed on one end of the train and the second car is disposed on an opposing end of the train.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the track is divided into a plurality of zones and wherein the track vacancy detection system consists of one or more sensors disposed only at an entry point into each of the plurality of zones.

11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium for vital train tracking using ultra-wideband beacons, the computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a processing device to cause the processing device to perform a method comprising:

receiving, by at least two wayside UWB beacons, a unique beacon identification number transmitted by an onboard UWB beacon disposed on a train;

transmitting, by each of the at least two wayside UWB beacons to a central computer, the unique beacon identification number and an identification number associated with the wayside UWB beacon;

calculating, by the central computer, a position of the train on the track based at least in part upon known location of the at least two wayside UWB beacons, and

receiving, by the central computer, a signal from a track vacancy detection equipment disposed on the track indicating a presence of the train on the track, wherein the central computer is configured to detect a presence of the train on the track using both the track vacancy detection equipment and the at least two wayside UWB beacons.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the least two wayside UWB beacons are part of a plurality of wayside UWB beacons disposed along the track and wherein a subset of the plurality of wayside UWB beacons are connected to a wayside communications network.

13. The computer program product of claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of wayside UWB beacons not in the subset are located within a communications range of at least two of the plurality of wayside UWB beacons in the subset.

14. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the train includes a first car that includes at least two onboard UWB beacons and a second car that includes two additional onboard UWB beacons, wherein the first car is disposed on one end of the train and the second car is disposed on an opposing end of the train.

15. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the track is divided into a plurality of zones and wherein the track vacancy detection system consists of one or more sensors disposed only at an entry point into each of the plurality of zones.