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 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.

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 system, method and device for controlling a rail vehicle consist configured to traverse a rail system is provided. In one embodiment, the system may include a second module configured to receive environmental data from a first module having one or more sensors, wherein the environmental data is indicative of one or more environmental conditions for a portion of the rail system; wherein the second module is further configured to conduct an assessment of the environmental data in relation to a first control parameter; the second module is further configured to communicate one or more control signals of one of the first control parameter or a different, second control parameter based on the assessment; each of the first and second control parameters relates to controlling tractive effort of the rail vehicle consist over the portion of the rail system; and the second module is further configured to communicate the one or more control signals to a third module for control of the rail vehicle consist.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for monitoring different conditions that are simultaneously or concurrently experienced by different vehicles in the same consist and using the monitored conditions to locally change operations of one or more of the vehicles. In accordance with one embodiment, operations data related to one or more vehicles of the consist is acquired from one or more of plural different locations in the consist. The operations data and location data related to where the operations data is acquired are communicated to a first vehicle of the consist. Command data is formed based on the operations data and the location data. The command data directs at least one of the vehicles in the consist to change one or more operations of the at least one of the vehicles. The command data is transmitted to one or more of the vehicles of the consist.

Abstract: A system, method and device for controlling a rail vehicle consist configured to traverse a rail system is provided. In one embodiment, the system may include a second module configured to receive environmental data from a first module having one or more sensors, wherein the environmental data is indicative of one or more environmental conditions for a portion of the rail system; wherein the second module is further configured to conduct an assessment of the environmental data in relation to a first control parameter; the second module is further configured to communicate one or more control signals of one of the first control parameter or a different, second control parameter based on the assessment; each of the first and second control parameters relates to controlling tractive effort of the rail vehicle consist over the portion of the rail system; and the second module is further configured to communicate the one or more control signals to a third module for control of the rail vehicle consist.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for monitoring different conditions that are simultaneously or concurrently experienced by different vehicles in the same consist and using the monitored conditions to locally change operations of one or more of the vehicles. In accordance with one embodiment, operations data related to one or more vehicles of the consist is acquired from one or more of plural different locations in the consist. The operations data and location data related to where the operations data is acquired are communicated to a first vehicle of the consist. Command data is formed based on the operations data and the location data. The command data directs at least one of the vehicles in the consist to change one or more operations of the at least one of the vehicles. The command data is transmitted to one or more of the vehicles of the consist.

Abstract: A method of remotely detecting and controlling whether locomotive data indicative of at least one of integrated diagnostic data, telemetry data and recording systems data from a locomotive is valid locomotive data, the method including remotely accessing locomotive data residing at the locomotive, reviewing a data parameter characteristic of the locomotive data, and comparing the data parameter to indicia signifying an expected data parameter characteristic.

Abstract: A system for improving fuel efficiency of a railroad train located on a railroad train having a locomotive consist including one or more railroad locomotives, said system including a position-determining device, a track profile database including terrain and contour data about a railroad track, and a processor including an algorithm to calculate a load of said train and a feed forward algorithm to determine an acceleration rate and/or a deceleration rate of said train based on said calculated load and forth coming terrain and contour of a railroad track, wherein said change in condition of the track is determined on-board the locomotive consist and the locomotive consist power setting is adjusted to optimize locomotive consist fuel consumption based on the calculated load of the train as the train is proximate to the change in track condition.

Abstract: A system for improving fuel efficiency of a railroad train located on a railroad train having a locomotive consist including one or more railroad locomotives, said system including a position-determining device, a track profile database including terrain and contour data about a railroad track, and a processor including an algorithm to calculate a load of said train and a feed forward algorithm to determine an acceleration rate and/or a deceleration rate of said train based on said calculated load and forth coming terrain and contour of a railroad track, wherein said change in condition of the track is determined on-board the locomotive consist and the locomotive consist power setting is adjusted to optimize locomotive consist fuel consumption based on the calculated load of the train as the train is proximate to the change in track condition.

Abstract: A method of controlling the operation of a railroad train having a locomotive consist comprising one or more railroad locomotives to improve locomotive consist fuel efficiency, the method including calculating on-board the locomotive consist a load of the train being moved by the locomotive consist based on measuring the movement of the train in response to locomotive consist power settings, determining on-board the locomotive consist a current location of the train, identifying on-board the locomotive consist a change in condition of the track prior to the train reaching the change in track condition, and adjusting on-board the locomotive consist the locomotive consist power setting to optimize locomotive consist fuel consumption based on the calculated load of the train as the train is proximate to the change in track condition.

Abstract: Methods and systems for preserving content in a data recorder are provided. The method includes acquiring at least one of image data and audio data relative to an environment in a vicinity of a camera, receiving a data preservation request, and stamping the at least one of image data and audio data for future download using the data preservation request.

Abstract: A method of remotely detecting and controlling whether locomotive data indicative of at least one of integrated diagnostic data, telemetry data and recording systems data from a locomotive is valid locomotive data, the method including remotely accessing locomotive data residing at the locomotive, reviewing a data parameter characteristic of the locomotive data, and comparing the data parameter to indicia signifying an expected data parameter characteristic.

Abstract: A method of controlling the operation of a railroad train having a locomotive consist comprising one or more railroad locomotives to improve locomotive consist fuel efficiency, the method including calculating on-board the locomotive consist a load of the train being moved by the locomotive consist based on measuring the movement of the train in response to locomotive consist power settings, determining on-board the locomotive consist a current location of the train, identifying on-board the locomotive consist a change in condition of the track prior to the train reaching the change in track condition, and adjusting on-board the locomotive consist the locomotive consist power setting to optimize locomotive consist fuel consumption based on the calculated load of the train as the train is proximate to the change in track condition.

Abstract: The invention includes a system and method for managing an operation of a locomotive as a function of a location of the locomotive. The system comprises a location unit for determining the location of the locomotive and a control unit for controlling an operation of the locomotive as a function of the determined location. In another embodiment, the invention includes a system and method for receiving a security authorization input from an operator of the locomotive, comparing the received operator security authorization input to a security authorization parameter, and restricting an operation of the locomotive when the received operator security authorization input does not match the security authorization parameter. In yet another embodiment, the invention includes a system and method of sending a control command from a remote system, receiving the control command at the locomotive, and controlling an operation of the locomotive responsive to the received control command.

Abstract: Method, system, and computer program product are provided for reporting and processing information relating to railroad assets to user entities that form part of a railroad transportation network. The entities may comprise a plurality of entity groups performing distinct functions relative to the railroad assets, such as forming, operating, maintaining and/or servicing the assets of the railroad transportation network.

Abstract: A locomotive (10) is operable in two or more distinct configurations, with the change in configuration being response to a configuration input signal (35). A locomotive configuration is represented by the set of end use device control signals (13) that are generated by the locomotive control systems (22) in response to the respective set of operational input values (27). For a given set of operational input values, a first set of end use device control signals is generated when a configuration input has a first value, and a second set of end use device control signals is generated when a configuration input has a second value. The configuration input variable is responsive to an emission profile associated with the locomotive location. A value of a locomotive emission parameter corresponding to the emission profile is monitored and saved in a storage device (e.g., 104).

Abstract: An imaging system (5) for generating landmark correlated images taken from a railroad locomotive includes a camera (142) mounted on the locomotive (22) for imaging an environment in a vicinity of the locomotive and transmitting imaging data indicative of images acquired. The system also includes a location sensor (20) on-board the locomotive generating signals indicative of a geographic location of the locomotive constituting location data. The system also includes a railroad landmark database (68) comprising a plurality of railroad landmarks (76) associated with respective geographic locations constituting landmark tags. The system also includes a processor (e.g., 10) receiving the imaging data and location data and communicating with the railroad landmark database to correlate the landmark tags with the imaging data and the location data for generating landmark correlated image data. The system may also include a computer system (86) for accessing the landmark correlated image data by landmark location.

Abstract: A method and system for tracking a rail car having an on-board communication system including a location determining system and a transceiver for receiving and transmitting rail car data. The communication system including a processor responsive to an executable program for enabling operation of the transceiver to transmit rail car data during a reporting event and having a memory for storing data and instructions. The processor memory includes a remotely addressable software database accessible by the executable program for establishing a reporting event in response to at least one of a selected time, a change in geographical location, an extended time in a geographical location, an approach to a specified geographical location, a coupling/decoupling of the rail car with a particular locomotive and a command to report.

Abstract: A method and system (10) for self-directed operation of a locomotive (12) in a rail yard (82) using a control system (64) on the locomotive for controlling locomotive operations. The method includes establishing at least one operational area (e.g. 74, 76, 78) within the rail yard and associating an operational parameter with each area. The method also includes operating the locomotive using the control system and sensing a location of the locomotive within an operational area. The method further includes determining whether the locomotive is operating within the operational parameter established for the area of its location. If the locomotive is determined not to be operating within the operational parameter, an operation of the locomotive is automatically controlled to operate within the respective operational parameter, without operator input to the control system. The system includes a location detector (62) in communication with the control system to automatically control locomotive operation.