Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100163687 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING REMOTE TRAIN OPERATION - A method of verifying clearance of a rail crossing includes: (a) detecting the presence of a train near the crossing, the train being equipped with a locomotive control unit; (b) in response to detection of the train near the crossing, generating a unique code; (c) capturing an image of the crossing; (d) transmitting the unique code along with the image to a remote operator control unit; (e) using the locomotive control unit, waiting for a response from the operator control unit containing the unique code; and (f) if the response containing the unique code is received by the locomotive control unit, permitting further operation of the train and, if the unique code is not received by the locomotive control unit, carrying out an automatic response which prevents movement of the train through the crossing. | 07-01-2010 |
20110099413 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LOCOMOTIVE INTER-CONSIST EQUIPMENT SPARING AND REDUNDANCY - In a system and method for communicating data in a locomotive consist or other vehicle consist (comprising at least first and second linked vehicles), a first electronic component in the first vehicle of the vehicle consist is monitored to determine if the component is in (or enters) a failure state. In the failure state, the first electronic component is unable to perform a designated function. Upon determining the failure state, data is transmitted from the first vehicle to a second electronic component on the second vehicle, over a communication channel linking the first vehicle and the second vehicle. The second electronic component is operated based on the transmitted data, with the second electronic component performing the designated function that the first electronic component is unable to perform. | 04-28-2011 |
20120074266 | RAIL VEHICLE CONTROL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING WITH A RAIL VEHICLE - A rail vehicle control communication system includes a vehicle management device capable of being coupled with a conductive pathway extending along a track and of forming an instruction to control an operation of a rail vehicle travelling along the track, the vehicle management device transmitting the instruction to the rail vehicle through the conductive pathway; and an on-board communication device capable of being coupled with the rail vehicle, the on-board communication device configured to receive the instruction communicated through the conductive pathway from the vehicle management device, the on-board communication device configured to change the operation of the rail vehicle based on the instruction. | 03-29-2012 |
20120078452 | RAIL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING WITH A RAIL VEHICLE - A rail communication system includes: a communication management device capable of being communicatively coupled with a conductive pathway that extends along a track; and an on-board communication device capable of being coupled with a rail vehicle that travels along the track and with the conductive pathway, the communication management device and the on-board communication device configured to communicate a data signal between each other through the conductive pathway, where the data signal includes network data. A method for communicating with rail vehicles includes: coupling a vehicle management device with a conductive pathway that extends alongside a track; and coupling an on-board communication device disposed on a rail vehicle that travels along the track with the conductive pathway; where the communication management device and the on-board communication device communicate a data signal that includes network data through the conductive pathway. | 03-29-2012 |
20120078453 | RAIL APPLIANCE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING WITH A RAIL APPLIANCE - A rail appliance communication system includes: an equipment management device capable of being coupled with a conductive pathway extending along a track that a rail vehicle travels along; and an appliance communication device capable of being coupled with a rail appliance disposed proximate to the track, the appliance communication device and the equipment management device configured to communicate a data signal with each other through the conductive pathway. A method for communicating with a rail appliance includes: coupling an equipment management device with a conductive pathway that extends along a track that a rail vehicle travels along; and coupling an appliance communication device with the rail appliance disposed proximate to the track; wherein the equipment management device and the appliance communication device communicate a data signal through the conductive pathway. | 03-29-2012 |
20120245766 | CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOTELY ISOLATING POWERED UNITS IN A VEHICLE SYSTEM - A control system includes an energy management system and an isolation control system. The energy management system generates a trip plan that designates operational settings of a vehicle system having powered units that generate tractive effort to propel the vehicle system. The energy management system determines a tractive effort capability of the vehicle system and a demanded tractive effort of a trip. The energy management system identifies a tractive effort difference between the tractive effort capability of the vehicle system and the demanded tractive effort of the trip and selects at least one of the powered units based on the tractive effort difference. The isolation module remotely turns the selected powered unit to an OFF mode such that the vehicle system is propelled along the route during the trip by the powered units other than the selected powered unit. | 09-27-2012 |
20120296545 | CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOTELY ISOLATING POWERED UNITS IN A VEHICLE SYSTEM - A method for controlling a vehicle system includes controlling a vehicle system having powered units that propel the vehicle system. A trip plan directs at least one of the powered units to remain in a non-propulsion generating mode during the trip. The method further includes slowing and/or stopping the vehicle system in contravention to the first trip plan, activating the at least one of the powered units out of the non-propulsion generating mode into an active, propulsion-generating mode when the vehicle system accelerates after the at least one of slowing or stopping in contravention to the first trip plan, and switching the at least one of the powered units back to the non-propulsion generating mode after the vehicle system achieves a designated speed following accelerating after the at least one of the slowing or stopping of the vehicle system in contravention to the first trip plan. | 11-22-2012 |
20120318931 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED ESTABLISHMENT OF A VEHICLE CONSIST - A method for controllably linking propulsion units in a vehicle consist includes transmitting a linking signal having an identity of a lead propulsion unit. A remote propulsion unit is remotely controlled by the lead unit when the identity matches a designated identity stored onboard the remote unit. A de-linking signal is transmitted from the lead unit when the lead unit is to be decoupled from the vehicle consist. The de-linking signal includes a replacement identity of a replacement propulsion unit. A replacement linking signal is transmitted from a second lead unit. The remote propulsion unit allows the second lead propulsion unit to remotely control the operations of the remote propulsion unit when replacement identity stored onboard the remote propulsion unit matches an identity that is communicated in the replacement linking signal. | 12-20-2012 |
20130035811 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A VEHICLE CONSIST - A system includes first and second control modules, an energy management module, and an arbitration module. The first and second control modules are on-board first and second powered vehicles coupled by at least a third vehicle in a vehicle consist. The first control module forms control signals to coordinate tractive efforts provided by the vehicle consist. The energy management module is on-board the second powered vehicle and is communicatively coupled with the second control module. The energy management module forms control signals that are transmitted by the second control module to control the tractive efforts provided by the first powered vehicle and the second powered vehicle based on a trip profile associated with a trip of the vehicle consist. The arbitration module is communicatively coupled with the first and second control modules. The arbitration module determines which of the control modules controls the tractive efforts provided by the vehicle consist. | 02-07-2013 |
20130131909 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CHANGING WHEN A VEHICLE ENTERS A VEHICLE YARD - A method includes, responsive to a determination that a first vehicle system to be received in a vehicle yard is longer than a length of a receiving route of the vehicle yard that is designated for receiving the first vehicle system, processing a first movement plan to generate a revised movement plan. The first movement plan governs movement of the first vehicle system and one or more second vehicle systems in a transportation network that includes the vehicle yard. The revised movement plan is generated based at least in part on a designated time restriction for the first vehicle system to travel to and be received within the vehicle yard on the receiving route. The method also includes controlling at least one of the first vehicle system or at least one of the one or more second vehicle systems based on the revised movement plan. | 05-23-2013 |
20130151032 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING DATA IN A VEHICLE SYSTEM - A system including a router transceiver unit that is configured to be disposed on-board a vehicle system. The vehicle system may have at least a source vehicle and a separate linked vehicle that are mechanically linked with each other to travel together along a route and are communicatively linked with each other through a system network of the vehicle system. The router transceiver unit is configured to be communicatively coupled to a requesting operational component of the source vehicle and the system network. The router transceiver unit is also configured to receive a local data packet from the requesting operational component that is directed toward a target operational component of the linked vehicle. The router transceiver unit includes an encapsulation module that is configured to transform the local data packet into an in-tunnel data packet, wherein the local and in-tunnel data packets have different packet formats. | 06-13-2013 |
20130168503 | DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RAIL VEHICLE - A detection system for a rail vehicle includes a control module, which has a sensor, input for receiving a signal from a sensor. The control module is configured to receive the signal and to output information responsive to the signal. In operation, the control module and a sensor are deployed on board the rail vehicle. The sensor is configured to generate the signal responsive to detecting a designated condition on board the rail vehicle. When the condition occurs, the sensor outputs the signal, which is received by the control module. Responsive to the signal, the control module outputs the information, such as communicating information of the signal content to another rail vehicle, or to an off board location. The designated condition may be unauthorized use of a handheld wireless device in a rail vehicle, or intruder entry into an unmanned rail vehicle. | 07-04-2013 |
20130173083 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ENERGY MANAGEMENT WITHIN A TRANSPORTATION NETWORK - A method includes determining whether use of an energy management system (EMS) associated with a vehicle traveling in a transportation network is allowed within a region of the transportation network. The EMS obtains a trip plan for the vehicle that designates operational settings of the vehicle as a function of at least one of distance or time along a trip of the vehicle. The method also includes determining whether the EMS is being used by the vehicle when the vehicle is within the region, and sending a message to an off-board location when the EMS is not being used by the vehicle within the region. | 07-04-2013 |
20130200222 | CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOTELY ISOLATING POWERED UNITS IN A VEHICLE SYSTEM - A method includes obtaining motive outputs demanded by a trip plan for a vehicle system having interconnected propulsion-generating vehicles, determining motive output capabilities of the propulsion-generating vehicles, and identifying segments of the trip where the motive output capabilities of the propulsion-generating vehicles exceed motive outputs demanded by the trip plan over the segments. The method further includes selecting one or more of the propulsion-generating vehicles for turning at least one of off or to idle in the one or more segments while one or more remaining propulsion-generating vehicles in the vehicle system remain on. The propulsion-generating vehicles are selected such that a total motive output capability of the one or more remaining propulsion-generating vehicles remains at least as great as the motive outputs demanded by the trip plan over the one or more segments. | 08-08-2013 |
20130261842 | VEHICLE CONSIST CONFIGURATION CONTROL - A method includes obtaining data relating to operation of a first vehicle in a vehicle consist that includes the first vehicle and a second vehicle communicatively coupled with each other by a communication channel. The first vehicle includes a first electronic component performing functions for the first vehicle using the first data. The method also includes communicating the first data over the communication channel from the first vehicle to a second electronic component disposed onboard the second vehicle responsive to the first electronic component being unable to perform the one or more functions for the first vehicle using the first data. The method further includes performing the functions of the first electronic component with the second electronic component using the first data that is received from the first vehicle. | 10-03-2013 |
20130317676 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INSPECTING A ROUTE DURING MOVEMENT OF A VEHICLE SYSTEM OVER THE ROUTE - A sensing system includes a leading sensor, a trailing sensor, and a route examining unit. The sensors are coupled to a vehicle system that travels along a route. The leading sensor acquires first inspection data indicative of a condition of the route as the vehicle system travels over the route. The condition may represent the health of the route. The trailing sensor acquires additional, second inspection data that is indicative of the condition to the route subsequent to the leading sensor acquiring the first inspection data. The route examining unit identifies a section of interest in the route based on the first inspection data acquired by the leading sensor. The route examining unit also directs the trailing sensor to acquire the second inspection data within the section of interest in the route when the first inspection data indicates damage to the route in the section of interest. | 11-28-2013 |
20130325258 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING VELOCITY OF A VEHICLE - A control system includes an onboard controller, a location determination system, and a speed sensor. The controller identifies a designated area along a route that includes a downhill section, an airflow restricted area, a banked section, a section to be cleaned, an adverse environmental area, an adverse vehicular condition area, and/or a section where travel is restricted. The designated area is associated with an operating rule that requires the vehicle to travel at least as fast as a lower speed limit. The location determination system monitors actual locations of the vehicle as the vehicle travels along the route. The speed sensor obtains speed data representative of an actual velocity of the vehicle. The controller restricts control of the vehicle such that the actual velocity of the vehicle is at least as fast as the lower speed limit of the designated area when the vehicle is in the designated area. | 12-05-2013 |
20140046513 | Route Examining System And Method - A route examining system includes an application device, a control unit, a detection unit, and an identification unit. The application device is onboard a first vehicle of a first vehicle system traveling along a route. The control unit controls supply of electric current from a power source to the application device in order to electrically inject an examination signal into the route via the application device. The detection unit is off-board of the first vehicle and monitors electrical characteristics of the route in response to the examination signal being injected into the route. The identification unit is off-board of the first vehicle and examines the one or more electrical characteristics of the route in order to determine whether a section of the route extending between the first vehicle and the detection unit is potentially damaged based on the one or more electrical characteristics. | 02-13-2014 |
20140058570 | INTEGRATED FRICTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A system includes a vehicle control system, a friction modification unit, and a friction management module. The vehicle control system is configured to obtain a trip plan for the vehicle. The trip plan is based on one or more characteristics of a trip of the vehicle along a route in a transportation network, characteristics of the vehicle, or characteristics of the route along which the vehicle travels. The trip plan designates one or more tractive operations or braking operations. The friction modification unit is configured to modify a friction characteristic of a surface of the route as the vehicle travels on the route. The friction management module is configured to direct the friction modification unit to modify the friction characteristic of the surface of the route based on the trip plan. | 02-27-2014 |
20140094998 | CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOTELY ISOLATING POWERED UNITS IN A VEHICLE SYSTEM - A control system includes an energy management system and an isolation control system. The energy management system generates a trip plan that designates operational settings of a vehicle system having powered units that generate tractive effort to propel the vehicle system. The energy management system determines a tractive effort capability of the vehicle system and a demanded tractive effort of a trip. The energy management system identifies a tractive effort difference between the tractive effort capability of the vehicle system and the demanded tractive effort of the trip and selects at least one of the powered units based on the tractive effort difference. The isolation module remotely turns the selected powered unit to an OFF mode such that the vehicle system is propelled along the route during the trip by the powered units other than the selected powered unit. | 04-03-2014 |
20140125356 | ROUTE EXAMINING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system includes at least one examining module configured to be disposed onboard a vehicle system and a mitigation module. The at least one examining module is configured to identify an identified section of a route being traversed by the vehicle system, with the identified section corresponding to at least one of a potentially damaged section of the route or an actually damaged section of the route. The mitigation module is configured to, responsive to an identification by the at least one examining module of the identified section of the route, automatically perform a mitigation action corresponding to the identified section of the route. | 05-08-2014 |
20140129060 | System And Method For Vehicle Communication, Vehicle Control, And/Or Route Inspection - In a system and method for communicating data in a locomotive consist or other vehicle consist (comprising at least first and second linked vehicles), a first electronic component in the first vehicle of the vehicle consist is monitored to determine if the component is in (or enters) a failure state. In the failure state, the first electronic component is unable to perform a designated function. Upon determining the failure state, data is transmitted from the first vehicle to a second electronic component on the second vehicle, over a communication channel linking the first vehicle and the second vehicle. The second electronic component is operated based on the transmitted data, with the second electronic component performing the designated function that the first electronic component is unable to perform. | 05-08-2014 |
20140129061 | DATA COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A communication system for a vehicle consist may include a control module that interfaces with router transceiver units coupled to a cable bus, and can communicate network data between vehicles having a transceiver unit over a cable bus. | 05-08-2014 |
20140129154 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INSPECTING A ROUTE DURING MOVEMENT OF A VEHICLE SYSTEM OVER THE ROUTE - A sensing system includes a leading sensor, a trailing sensor, and a route examining unit. The leading sensor is onboard a first vehicle of a vehicle system that is traveling along a route. The leading sensor measures first characteristics of the route as the vehicle system moves along the route. The trailing sensor is disposed onboard a second vehicle of the vehicle system. The trailing sensor measures second characteristics of the route as the vehicle system moves along the route. The route examining unit is disposed onboard the vehicle system and receives the first characteristics of the route and the second characteristics of the route to compare the first characteristics with the second characteristics. The route examining unit also identifies a segment of the route as being damaged based on a comparison of the first characteristics with the second characteristics. | 05-08-2014 |
20140136025 | Transportation Network Scheduling System And Method - A method includes forming a first schedule for a first vehicle to travel in a transportation network. The first schedule includes a first arrival time of the first vehicle at a scheduled location. The method also includes receiving a first trip plan for the first vehicle from an energy management system. The first trip plan is based on the first schedule and designates at least one of tractive efforts or braking efforts to be provided by the first vehicle to reduce at least one of an amount of energy consumed by the first vehicle or an amount of emissions generated by the first vehicle when the first vehicle travels through the transportation network to the scheduled location. The method further includes determining whether to modify the first schedule to avoid interfering with movement of one or more other vehicles by examining the trip plan for the first vehicle. | 05-15-2014 |
20140151512 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INSPECTION OF WAYSIDE RAIL EQUIPMENT - An inspection system for use with a rail vehicle includes a sensor configured to be deployed onboard the rail vehicle for inspection of wayside rail equipment to determine operability or alignment of the equipment. | 06-05-2014 |
20140156123 | INSPECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - An inspection system for use with a rail vehicle includes a database containing vehicle route data and at least one location of track to be inspected. The database may be accessed by rail vehicles with on-board inspection systems so that they may inspect the location of track to be inspected | 06-05-2014 |
20140180499 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DATA COMMUNICATIONS - A communication system includes a first wireless communication device disposed onboard a vehicle system having two or more propulsion-generating vehicles that are mechanically interconnected with each other. The communication system also includes a controller configured to be disposed onboard the vehicle system and operatively connected with the first wireless communication device in order to control operations of the device. The controller is configured to direct the first wireless communication device to switch between operating in an off-board communication mode and an onboard communication mode. When the first wireless communication device is operating in the off-board communication mode, the device is configured to receive remote data signals from a location that is disposed off-board of the vehicle system. When the first wireless communication device is operating in the onboard communication mode, the device is configured to communicate local data signals between the propulsion-generating vehicles of the vehicle system. | 06-26-2014 |
20140188307 | SIGNAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A VEHICLE SYSTEM - A communication system includes a first wireless communication device disposed onboard a vehicle system having two or more propulsion-generating vehicles that are mechanically interconnected with each other. The communication system also includes a controller configured to be disposed onboard the vehicle system and operatively connected with the first wireless communication device in order to control operations of the device. The controller is configured to direct the first wireless communication device to switch between operating in an off-board communication mode and an onboard communication mode. When the first wireless communication device is operating in the off-board communication mode, the device is configured to receive remote data signals from a location that is disposed off-board of the vehicle system. When the first wireless communication device is operating in the onboard communication mode, the device is configured to communicate local data signals between the propulsion-generating vehicles of the vehicle system. | 07-03-2014 |
20140207317 | ROUTE EXAMINING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system includes an application device, a control unit, a detection unit, an identification unit, and a secondary analysis module. The application device is configured to be at least one of conductively or inductively coupled with a route. The control unit is configured to control supply of electric current to inject an examination signal into the route via the application device. The detection unit is configured to monitor one or more electrical characteristics of the route. The identification unit is configured to examine the one or more electrical characteristics of the route to determine whether a section of the route is potentially damaged. The secondary analysis module is configured to perform a secondary analysis of the potentially damaged section of the route to at least one of confirm that damage has occurred, identify a type of damage, or assess a level of damage. | 07-24-2014 |
20140249699 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED ESTABLISHMENT OF A VEHICLE CONSIST - A method for controllably linking propulsion units in a vehicle consist includes transmitting a linking signal having an identity of a lead propulsion unit. A remote propulsion unit is remotely controlled by the lead unit when the identity matches a designated identity stored onboard the remote unit. A de-linking signal is transmitted from the lead unit when the lead unit is to be decoupled from the vehicle consist. The de-linking signal includes a replacement identity of a replacement propulsion unit. A replacement linking signal is transmitted from a second lead unit. The remote propulsion unit allows the second lead propulsion unit to remotely control the operations of the remote propulsion unit when replacement identity stored onboard the remote propulsion unit matches an identity that is communicated in the replacement linking signal. | 09-04-2014 |
20140330460 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING ENERGY DEMAND OF VEHICLES ON A NETWORK - A method includes monitoring an available amount of electrical energy on an electrical power grid for powering one or more loads at one time. The available amount of electrical energy represents an amount of electrical energy that may be consumed at one time without exceeding a grid capacity. The method also includes monitoring an electrical energy demand of plural electric vehicles traveling on a network of routes that includes one or more conductive pathways extending along the routes for delivering the electrical energy from the electrical power grid to the electric vehicles. The method further includes controlling movements of the electric vehicles such that the electrical energy demand of the electric vehicles does not exceed the available amount of electrical energy on the electrical power grid. | 11-06-2014 |
20140343835 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING A SLACK CONDITION OF A VEHICLE SYSTEM - A method for determining a slack condition of a vehicle system includes determining when each of first and second vehicles reaches a designated location along a route. The method also includes communicating a response message from the second vehicle to the first vehicle responsive to the second vehicle reaching the designated location, calculating a separation distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on a time delay between a first time when the first vehicle reached the designated location and a second time when the second vehicle reached the designated location, and determining a slack condition of the vehicle system based on the separation distance. The slack condition is representative of an amount of slack in the vehicle system between the first and second vehicles. | 11-20-2014 |
20140350756 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING A VEHICLE SYSTEM FACTORING MASS ATTRIBUTABLE TO WEATHER - A method includes receiving weather data of weather at least one of encountered or to be encountered by one or more vehicles in a vehicle system traveling on a trip along a route. The method also includes, based at least in part on the weather data, determining a first estimated weight of the vehicle system. The first estimated weight accounts for mass attributable to the weather. The method further includes controlling movements of the vehicle system during the trip based at least in part on the first estimated weight of the vehicle system. | 11-27-2014 |
20140358339 | System And Method For Controlling De-Rating Of Propulsion-Generating Vehicles In A Vehicle System - A method for de-rating propulsion-generating vehicles in a vehicle system includes identifying a feature of interest in a route and identifying one or more propulsion-generating vehicles as de-rating vehicles that are subject to a handling rule associated with the feature of interest. The handling rule dictates that throttle settings be limited to a reduced range when traveling over the feature of interest. The method further includes, when the de-rating vehicles are traveling along the route and outside of the feature of interest, operating the de-rating vehicles using a larger range of throttle settings and, responsive to approaching and/or traveling over the feature of interest, automatically de-rating at least a subset of the propulsion-generating vehicles in the vehicle system by operating the at least a subset of the propulsion-generating vehicles using the smaller range of throttle settings during travel over the feature of interest. | 12-04-2014 |
20140365096 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR SPEED MANAGEMENT WITHIN A TRANSPORTATION NETWORK - A method includes operating a vehicle traveling in a transportation network with a throttle of the vehicle at a maximum throttle setting during a trip of the vehicle along a route from a first location to a different, second location. The method also includes applying a dynamic brake of the vehicle at a maximum brake setting of the dynamic brake, and alternating between operating the vehicle with the throttle at the maximum throttle setting and applying the dynamic brake of the vehicle at the maximum brake setting along a route being traveled by the vehicle from the first location to the second location. | 12-11-2014 |
20140365098 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AT LEAST ONE OF TRACTIVE OR BRAKING EFFORTS OF A VEHICLE SYSTEM - System including an effort-monitoring system configured to control tractive efforts (TEs) individually produced by propulsion-generating vehicles in a vehicle system. The effort-monitoring system is configured to control each of the propulsion-generating vehicles to provide a respective prescribed TE. The vehicle system operates at a system TE when each of the propulsion-generating vehicles is providing the respective prescribed TE. The prescribed TEs are determined by at least one of an operating plan of the vehicle system or a regulation that limits TE or ground speed of the vehicle system. In response to determining that a first propulsion-generating vehicle is providing a reduced TE that is less than the prescribed TE of the first propulsion-generating vehicle, the effort-monitoring system is configured to control a second propulsion-generating vehicle to exceed the prescribed TE of the second propulsion-generating vehicle so that the vehicle system is operating at or below the system TE. | 12-11-2014 |
20150045993 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VEHICLE COMMUNICATION, VEHICLE CONTROL, AND/OR ROUTE INSPECTION - In a system and method for communicating data in a locomotive consist or other vehicle consist (comprising at least first and second linked vehicles), a first electronic component in the first vehicle of the vehicle consist is monitored to determine if the component is in (or enters) a failure state. In the failure state, the first electronic component is unable to perform a designated function. Upon determining the failure state, data is transmitted from the first vehicle to a second electronic component on the second vehicle, over a communication channel linking the first vehicle and the second vehicle. The second electronic component is operated based on the transmitted data, with the second electronic component performing the designated function that the first electronic component is unable to perform. | 02-12-2015 |
20150073622 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING DATA IN A VEHICLE SYSTEM - A system includes a router transceiver unit that is configured to be disposed on-board a vehicle system. The vehicle system may have at least a source vehicle and a separate linked vehicle that are communicatively linked with each other through a system network of the vehicle system. The router transceiver unit is configured to be communicatively coupled to a requesting operational component of the source vehicle and the system network. The router transceiver unit is also configured to receive a local data packet from the requesting operational component that is directed toward a target operational component of the linked vehicle. The router transceiver unit includes an encapsulation module that is configured to transform the local data packet into an in-tunnel data packet, wherein the local and in-tunnel data packets have different packet formats. | 03-12-2015 |
20150074013 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR ROUTE EFFICIENCY MAPPING - A system includes a simulation module and a mapping module. The simulation module is configured to simulate performance of a first mission over at least one route by a first vehicle, and to simulate the performance of the first mission using route information corresponding to one or more characteristics of the at least one route and vehicle information corresponding to one or more characteristics of the first vehicle. The simulation module is configured to determine performance characteristics for the first mission, with the performance characteristics including at least one fuel usage characteristic evaluated for plural sections of the at least one route. The mapping module is configured to provide a fuel efficiency map describing fuel usage along at least a portion of the at least one route using the performance characteristics determined by the simulation module. | 03-12-2015 |
20150076290 | DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RAIL VEHICLE - A detection system for a rail vehicle includes a control module, which has a sensor input for receiving a signal from a sensor. The control module is configured to receive the signal and to output information responsive to the signal. In operation, the control module and a sensor are deployed on board the rail vehicle. The sensor is configured to generate the signal responsive to detecting a designated condition on board the rail vehicle. When the condition occurs, the sensor outputs the signal, which is received by the control module. Responsive to the signal, the control module outputs the information, such as communicating information of the signal content to another rail vehicle, or to an off board location. The designated condition may be unauthorized use of a handheld wireless device in a rail vehicle, or intruder entry into an unmanned rail vehicle. | 03-19-2015 |
20150081214 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING DAMAGED SECTIONS OF A ROUTE - A method and system for examining velocity differences in a vehicle speed of a vehicle and the angular speed of the axles and/or wheels of the vehicle system traveling along a route to determine if the route is damaged and/or to identify the location of the potentially damaged section of the route. The differences may represent wheel creeps of the vehicle system. | 03-19-2015 |