Abstract: According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of devices, systems, and methods related relaying voice messages to operator control units of a locomotive. In an exemplary embodiment, an operator control unit generally includes a user interface configured to receive one or more commands from an operator for controlling a locomotive, a wireless communication interface configured to transmit data to and receive data from a locomotive control unit of the locomotive, and memory configured to store multiple voice messages corresponding to the locomotive. The operator control unit also includes a processor configured to receive a voice message number from the locomotive control unit of the locomotive via the wireless communication interface, retrieve one of the multiple stored voice messages from memory corresponding to the received voice message number, and transmit the retrieved voice message to an earpiece of the operator via a wired transmission and/or near-field wireless transmission.

Abstract: According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of systems and methods for safety interlocking of operator control units for remote control machines. In an exemplary embodiment, an operator control unit configured to enable and disable a safety lock mode for a remote control machine includes a processor, a network interface, an input interface and memory including processor-executable instructions which cause the processor to disable motion controls of the remote control machine while maintaining wireless communication with the remote control machine to allow core non-motion controls of the remote control machine, and in response to a predefined sequence of activations of the multiple inputs during a specified time period, enable motion controls of the remote control machine. Methods for disabling a safety lock mode may include one or more required input interface actions in order to reduce a chance of accidentally disabling the safety lock mode.

Abstract: According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of devices, systems, and methods related to tracking location of operator control units for locomotives. In an exemplary embodiment, an operator control unit includes a user interface configured to receive one or more commands from an operator for controlling a locomotive. The operator control unit also includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver configured to receive location information of the operator control unit, and a wireless communication device. The wireless communication device is configured to transmit command data corresponding to the one or more commands and location data corresponding to the location information to a machine control unit on the locomotive.