Abstract: A locomotive control system includes a mobile platform that moves under remote and/or autonomous control, a sensor package supported by the mobile platform that obtains information relating to a component of a railroad, and one or more processors that receive the sensor information and analyze the information in combination with other information that is not obtained from the sensor package. The processors also generate an output that displays information relating to one or more of a status, a condition, and/or a state of health of the component of the railroad; initiates an action to change an operational state of the component; identifies a hazard to one or more locomotives traveling within the railroad; and/or collects the information relating to the component. Optionally, the component is not communicatively coupled to an information network and the mobile platform provides the information obtained by the sensor package to the information network.

Abstract: A route examining system includes first and second detection units and an identification unit. The first and second detection units are configured to be disposed onboard a vehicle system traveling along a route having plural conductive tracks. The first and second detection units are disposed at spaced apart locations along a length of the vehicle system. The first and second detection units are configured to monitor one or more electrical characteristics of the conductive tracks in response to an examination signal being electrically injected into at least one of the conductive tracks. The identification unit includes one or more processors configured to determine that a section of the route includes an electrical short responsive to the one or more electrical characteristics monitored by the first and second detection units indicating that the examination signal is received by only one of the first and second detection units.

Abstract: A power system is presented. The power system includes a first converter including a first output terminal a first control unit coupled to the first converter, a second converter including a second output terminal, where the second converter is coupled in parallel to the first converter, and a second control unit coupled to the second converter. The second control unit is configured to measure a plurality of phase currents at the second output terminal, determine a harmonic current transmitted by the second converter based on single phase current of the plurality of measured phase currents, and change a time-period of at least one switching cycle of a carrier wave of the second converter based on the determined harmonic current to synchronize with a carrier wave of the first converter.

Abstract: A method and system determine, during movement of a vehicle system along a route, a tractive load demanded by the vehicle system to propel the vehicle system along the route. The vehicle system includes a propulsion-generating vehicle having plural individually controllable traction motors. A first selected set of the traction motors for deactivation is identified during the movement of the vehicle system along the route based at least in part on the tractive load demanded by the vehicle system. The traction motors in the first selected set are deactivated while at least one of the traction motors in a first remaining set of the traction motors continues to generate tractive effort to propel the vehicle system. The traction motors that are selected for deactivation may all be on the same vehicle in the vehicle system, or may be on different vehicles of the same vehicle system.

Abstract: A power converter control system includes a first power converter, at least one additional power converter, a first control module, and an additional control module. The first power converter receives direct current and outputs alternating current as a first power output. The additional power converter receives direct current and outputs alternating current as an additional power output. The first control module controls timing of events of the first power converter. The additional control module is associated with the additional power converter and controls timing of events of the additional power converter. The first control module communicates first information regarding the timing of the first power converter to the additional control module. The additional control module is configured to adjust the timing of the additional power converter to correspond with the timing of the first power converter.

Abstract: A power system is disclosed. The power system includes a first power generating unit. The first power generating unit includes a first power converting subunit and a first control unit coupled to the first power converting subunit, where the first control unit is configured to regulate a voltage of the first power generating unit. The power system further includes a second power generating unit coupled to the first power generating unit and a load, where the second power generating unit includes a second power converting subunit and a second control unit coupled to the second power converting subunit, wherein the second control unit is configured to control a current of the second power generating unit to share a quantity of electrical output current flowing through the load among the first and second power generating units.

Abstract: A system and method for examining a route and/or vehicle system obtain a route parameter and/or a vehicle parameter from discrete examinations of the route and/or the vehicle system. The route parameter is indicative of a health of the route over which the vehicle system travels. The vehicle parameter is indicative of a health of the vehicle system. The discrete examinations of the route and/or the vehicle system are separated from each other by location and/or time. The route parameter and/or the vehicle parameter are examined to determine whether the route and/or the vehicle system is damaged and, responsive to determining that the route and/or the vehicle is damaged, the route and/or the vehicle system are continually monitored, such as by examination equipment onboard the vehicle system.

Abstract: A route examining system includes first and second detection units and an identification unit. The first and second detection units are configured to be disposed onboard a vehicle system traveling along a route having plural conductive tracks. The first and second detection units are disposed at spaced apart locations along a length of the vehicle system. The first and second detection units are configured to monitor one or more electrical characteristics of the conductive tracks in response to an examination signal being electrically injected into at least one of the conductive tracks. The identification unit includes one or more processors configured to determine that a section of the route includes an electrical short responsive to the one or more electrical characteristics monitored by the first and second detection units indicating that the examination signal is received by only one of the first and second detection units.

Abstract: A method and system determine, during movement of a vehicle system along a route, a tractive load demanded by the vehicle system to propel the vehicle system along the route. The vehicle system includes a propulsion-generating vehicle having plural individually controllable traction motors. A first selected set of the traction motors for deactivation is identified during the movement of the vehicle system along the route based at least in part on the tractive load demanded by the vehicle system. The traction motors in the first selected set are deactivated while at least one of the traction motors in a first remaining set of the traction motors continues to generate tractive effort to propel the vehicle system. The traction motors that are selected for deactivation may all be on the same vehicle in the vehicle system, or may be on different vehicles of the same vehicle system.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A system includes a plurality of wheels, a braking system, and one or more sensors. The plurality of wheels includes a guardian wheel and at least one non-guardian wheel and is disposed on a wheeled vehicle. The braking system is operatively connected to the guardian and non-guardian wheels and applies a first braking force to the at least one non-guardian wheel and a second braking force to the guardian wheel. The second braking force increases a slide risk of the guardian wheel beyond a slide risk of the at least one non-guardian wheel. One or more sensors disposed within the wheeled vehicle detect sliding of the guardian wheel allowing a corrective action to be taken to prevent sliding of the at least one non-guardian wheel.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein relate to electrical circuits. A system (e.g., inverter current system) is provided. The system includes plural inverters connected to a common bus and at least one capacitor. The inverters are configured to convert a direct current (DC) through the common bus to an alternating current (AC), by alternating different switches of the inverters between open and closed states in a respective switching cycle for each of the inverters. The system includes a controller circuit. The controller circuit is configured to adjust a current conducted onto the common bus to the inverters so that a root mean square of the current meets one or more designated criteria. The controller circuit controls the inverters to apply a frequency shift to the respective switching cycle of one or more of the inverters.

Abstract: A vehicle control system controls operation of motors of a vehicle and determines whether there is sufficient stored electric energy to power the vehicle through an unpowered segment of a route. The controller changes operation of the vehicle to ensure that the vehicle can travel completely through the unpowered segment by switching which energy storage device provides energy, changing vehicle speed, changing motor torque, changing which route is traveled on, selecting fewer motors to power the vehicle, requesting rendezvous with a recharging vehicle, running the energy storage devices in a degraded mode, initiating a motor to generate power to aid in propulsion and/or recharge the energy storage devices, selecting a different route, controlling the vehicle to draft or mechanically couple to another vehicle, and/or controlling the vehicle to gain momentum or to generate an overcharge.

Abstract: An electronic filter assembly includes a magnetically conductive annular body extending around a center axis, a set of magnetically conductive prongs radially extending from the center axis toward the annular body, and conductive windings extending around the prongs. The conductive windings can be disposed around the prongs instead of the annular body to assist in conduction of common mode magnetic flux, to reduce impedance of the filter assembly, and/or to more evenly distribute temperature in the filter assembly. A method for forming an electronic filter assembly includes forming an electronic filter assembly having a magnetically conductive annular body extending around a center axis and a set of magnetically conductive prongs radially extending from the center axis toward the annular body. The annular body and the prongs can be formed by coupling plural layers of magnetically conductive bodies together.

Abstract: A system may include a coded test signal transmission system configured to transmit a unique coded test signal along a route, and a coded test signal receiving system configured to receive the unique coded test signal along the route. The unique coded test signal received by the coded test signal receiving system is used to determine one or more characteristics of the route.

Abstract: A system includes a drive system having one or more traction motors coupled in driving relationship to a plurality of wheels of a vehicle system. The traction motors are configured to provide both motive power for the vehicle system in a propel mode of operation and retarding effort to brake the vehicle system in a braking mode of operation. The system further includes a parking brake for maintaining a static position of the vehicle system when in an engaged state, and a controller configured to detect when the parking brake is in the engaged state. The controller is further configured to control at least one of the one or more traction motors to provide a braking effort to resist movement of the vehicle system when the parking brake is in the engaged state.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A system includes a first controller, a data acquisition device, a friction modification unit, and a friction management controller. The first controller is configured to obtain an operational setting for a vehicle, and to output a first signal relating to the operational setting for controlling the vehicle. The data acquisition device is configured to obtain operational data of the vehicle as the vehicle travels, and to provide the operational data to the first controller. The first controller is configured to obtain a difference between the operational data and the operational setting, and to adjust the first signal based on the difference. The friction modification unit is configured to modify a friction characteristic of a surface of the route. The friction management controller is configured to direct the friction modification unit to modify the friction characteristic of the surface of the route based on the operational setting.

Abstract: A method and system determine, during movement of a vehicle system along a route, a tractive load demanded by the vehicle system to propel the vehicle system along the route. The vehicle system includes a propulsion-generating vehicle having plural individually controllable traction motors. A first selected set of the traction motors for deactivation is identified during the movement of the vehicle system along the route based at least in part on the tractive load demanded by the vehicle system. The traction motors in the first selected set are deactivated while at least one of the traction motors in a first remaining set of the traction motors continues to generate tractive effort to propel the vehicle system. The traction motors that are selected for deactivation may all be on the same vehicle in the vehicle system, or may be on different vehicles of the same vehicle system.

Abstract: A ripple current control system includes plural inverters connected to a common bus. The inverters are configured to convert a direct current (DC) through the common bus to an alternating current (AC) by alternating different switches of the inverters between open and closed states in a switching cycle for each of the inverters. The system also includes a controller configured to reduce a ripple current conducted onto the common bus by controlling the inverters to apply a phase shift to the switching cycle of one or more of the inverters based on the number of the inverters.