Abstract:
A method for vehicle control comprises determining a braking capability of a braking system of a vehicle, and modifying application of at least one control parameter by a control system of the vehicle based on the determined braking capability. Braking capability may be determined by activating the braking system of the vehicle to apply a braking force on the vehicle, and concurrently, applying a level of tractive effort of the vehicle that is sufficient to overcome the braking force. The braking capability is determined based on the level of tractive effort.
Abstract:
A brake monitoring system and method determine one or more characteristics of a conduit in a first air brake system of a first vehicle system, compare the one or more characteristics of the first air brake system with one or more designated waveform signatures, and distinguish between communication of a brake application signal that is propagated along the vehicle system through the conduit as a decrease in pressure in the conduit and a change in the pressure in the conduit that is not representative of the communication of the brake application signal based on comparing the one or more characteristics with the one or more designated waveform signatures.
Abstract:
A communication system and method receive, at an energy management system disposed onboard a vehicle system formed from a lead vehicle and one or more remote vehicles, trip data that represents one or more characteristics of an upcoming trip of the vehicle system along a route. A selected portion of the trip data is communicated from the energy management system to a distributed power system also disposed onboard the vehicle system. The selected portion includes identifying information and one or more orientations of the one or more remote vehicles. Using the distributed power system, communication links between the lead vehicle and the one or more remote vehicles are established using the identifying information and the one or more orientations.
Abstract:
A method includes determining a location of a vehicle system traveling on a track during a first trip relative to a curve in the track. The method also includes monitoring a temperature profile at a contact interface between a wheel of the vehicle system and a rail of the track that contacts the wheel as the vehicle system traverses the curve in the track. The temperature profile is based, at least in part, on a first speed profile of the vehicle system during the first trip. The method further includes analyzing the temperature profile to detect a flanging event between the wheel and the rail as the vehicle system traverses along the curve in response to the temperature profile indicating that a flange of the wheel engages a side of the rail.
Abstract:
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.
Abstract:
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.
Abstract:
In a communication system and method, a vehicle identifier is determined for a first remote vehicle that is included in a vehicle consist formed from a lead vehicle and at least the first remote vehicle. The system and method communicate a wireless linking message addressed to the vehicle identifier from the lead vehicle to the first remote vehicle, and establish a communication link between the lead vehicle and the first remote vehicle responsive to receipt of the wireless linking message at the first remote vehicle. The communication link is established such that movement of the first remote vehicle is remotely controlled from the lead vehicle via the communication link. The communication link is established without an operator entering the first remote vehicle.
Abstract:
A method for vehicle control comprises determining a braking capability of a braking system of a vehicle, and modifying application of at least one control parameter by a control system of the vehicle based on the determined braking capability. Braking capability may be determined by activating the braking system of the vehicle to apply a braking force on the vehicle, and concurrently, applying a level of tractive effort of the vehicle that is sufficient to overcome the braking force. The braking capability is determined based on the level of tractive effort.