Described herein is a system (100) for measuring a position of a model vehicle. The system (100) includes an acoustic transmitter (102) located onboard the vehicle (110) that broadcasts an acoustic signal that is received by a plurality of acoustic receivers (104) at fixed positions. The durations of time required for the acoustic signal to be received by the various ones of the acoustic receivers (104) are measured and used to determine corresponding distances between each of the acoustic receivers and the acoustic transmitter (102). These determined distances are then used to arrive at a position for the acoustic transmitter (102) and the associated vehicle (110) based upon the known positions of the plurality of acoustic receivers (104). In some implementations, the acoustic signal used is an ultrasonic signal.
G05D 1/00 - Control of position, course, altitude or attitude of land, water, air or space vehicles, e.g. using automatic pilots
G06F 17/00 - Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions
G06G 7/78 - Analogue computers for specific processes, systems, or devices, e.g. simulators for direction-finding, locating, distance or velocity measuring, or navigation systems
B61L 25/02 - Indicating or recording positions or identities of vehicles or trains
B61L 3/00 - Devices along the route for controlling devices on the vehicle or train, e.g. to release brake or to operate a warning signal
B61L 3/08 - Devices along the route for controlling devices on the vehicle or train, e.g. to release brake or to operate a warning signal at selected places along the route, e.g. intermittent control controlling electrically
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