Abstract: A system includes a location determining circuit configured to acquire position information of a vehicle system moving along a route. The system also includes a controller circuit having one or more processors. The controller circuit is configured to calculate curvatures of the route, based at least in part on the position information, to form a curvature waveform. The controller circuit is further configured to generate a route map based on the curvature waveform.

Abstract: A locomotive propulsion system onboard a locomotive platform includes a traction motor, a propulsion electrical storage device, an ancillary electrical storage device, and a controller. The propulsion electrical storage device is electrically connected to the traction motor via a propulsion circuit, and the ancillary electrical storage device is electrically connected to the traction motor via an ancillary circuit. The controller is configured to direct the ancillary electrical storage device to supply electric current to the traction motor via the ancillary circuit to power the traction motor during an elevated demand period. At an end of the elevated demand period, the controller is configured to control the ancillary circuit to stop conducting electric current from the ancillary electrical storage device and to direct the propulsion electrical storage device to supply electric current to the traction motor via the propulsion circuit to power the traction motor.

Abstract: A system (e.g., a control system) includes a sensor configured to monitor an operating condition of a vehicle system during movement of the vehicle system along a route. The system also includes a controller configured to designate one or more operational settings for the vehicle system as a function of time and/or distance along the route.

Abstract: A method and system for inspecting a rail profile include using ultrasonic phased arrays. Determined anomalies, such as material flaws like volumetric defects and cracks, in a fluid-immersed rail profile are detected by employing one or more phased array probes located proximate the rail profile. Electronic delays and beam steering and focusing can be employed to tailor the inspection to the rail geometry.

Abstract: A strain sensor system emits coarse interrogation signals of different frequencies during a coarse scan while an RF resonant sensor and/or an RF interrogator moves relative to the other. The sensor emits responsive RF signals within a frequency range of a frequency of interest of the sensor. The controller identifies the frequency of interest based on receipt of the responsive signals. The interrogator emits fine interrogation signals of different frequencies during a fine scan subsequent to the coarse scan. The fine signals are emitted at frequencies within a frequency band on both sides of the frequency of interest. The sensor emits responsive RF signals and the controller identifies a center frequency of the RF resonant sensor based on receipt of the responsive signals.

Abstract: A controller in a vehicle consist is configured to receive data of measured brake system characteristics of a first vehicle of the consist and one or more remote vehicles of the consist. The controller is configured to communicate with the remote vehicles for coordinated travel along a route based on the received data. The controller is configured to switch from communicating with the remote vehicles, and receiving the brake system data from the remote vehicles, over a first wireless channel to a second wireless channel responsive to when the first wireless channel becomes unavailable.

Abstract: A locomotive control system includes an operation manager controller electrically coupled to an operator controller of a locomotive and to a local vehicle control system of the locomotive. The operation manager controller receives an operator command from the operator controller and can regulate the operator command to control operation of the locomotive.

Abstract: A current shaping phase leg bus bar for power electronics systems includes a first terminal connector, a second terminal connector, insulated from the first terminal connector, and a third terminal connector, insulated from the first and second terminal connectors. At least one of the terminal connectors is a current shaping terminal connector that includes one or more layers having a plurality of pre-defined locations for electrical connections, said plurality of pre-defined locations including one or more first locations and a plurality of second locations, and includes one or more gaps within or among its one or more layers, to provide substantially balanced conductive pathways among its one or more first locations and its plurality of second locations.

Abstract: A system detects a parameter and generates a first trip plan to automatically control the vehicle according to a first trip plan. A controller is connected to a sensor and configured to receive the parameter. The controller is configured to generate a new trip plan or modify the first trip plan into a modified trip plan based on at least one of a cumulative damage or an end of life. A new trip plan or the modified trip plan is configured, during operation of the vehicle according to the new trip plan or the modified trip plan, for at least one of an adjustment in velocity or avoiding one or more operating conditions of the vehicle, relative to the first trip plan.

Abstract: A system includes a route examining system on a non-propulsion-generating vehicle at a trailing end of a leading vehicle system. The route examining system examines a route on which the leading vehicle system is moving to determine whether the route is damaged. The system also includes an off-board failsafe controller that communicates with the route examining system. The off-board failsafe controller sends a warning signal to the trailing vehicle system responsive to receiving a notification signal from the route examining system indicating detection of damage to the route. The off-board failsafe controller also sends the warning signal to the trailing vehicle system responsive to losing communication with the route examining system. The warning signal directs the trailing vehicle system to automatically change movement of the trailing vehicle system responsive to the detection of damage to the route and/or the off-board failsafe controller losing communication with the route examining system.

Abstract: Various systems and methods are provided for a turbocharger system. In one example, a system for use with a power generator having a rotary machine including a combustor comprises: a heat exchanger positioned to receive exhaust gases from the combustor; and a turbocharger system, comprising: a low pressure compressor fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger and adapted to supply gases to the heat exchanger; a low pressure turbine and a high pressure turbine each fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger and adapted to receive gases from the heat exchanger; a high pressure compressor fluidly coupled to the rotary machine and the low pressure compressor, adapted to receive gases from the low pressure compressor and supply compressed air to the rotary machine; and a water injector adapted to inject water into a flow path between the low pressure compressor and the heat exchanger.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a variable geometry turbine. In one example, a system for an engine comprises a turbocharger turbine including a nozzle ring, the nozzle ring including a plurality of stationary vanes, each vane of the plurality of stationary vanes including a plurality of injection ports arranged at an outer surface of the vane and a gas supply system to supply variable gas flow to and out of the plurality of injection ports.

Abstract: Various systems and methods are provided for a turbocharger system. In one example, system for use with a power generator having a rotary machine including a combustor comprises: a heat exchanger positioned to receive exhaust gases from the combustor; and a turbocharger system, comprising: a low pressure turbocharger including a low pressure turbine adapted to receive gas flow from the heat exchanger and a low pressure compressor adapted to supply compressed air to the heat exchanger; a high pressure turbocharger including a high pressure turbine adapted to receive gas flow from the heat exchanger and a high pressure compressor adapted to receive gas flow from the low pressure compressor and supply compressed air to the rotary machine; and a second combustor adapted to inject exhaust gases into a flow path arranged between the heat exchanger and an inlet to each of the high pressure turbine and the low pressure turbine.

Abstract: A system includes one or more processors that are configured to obtain a constraint on movement for a first vehicle system along a route. The constraint is based on movement of a separate second vehicle system that is concurrently traveling along the same route. The processor(s) are configured to determine a speed profile that designates speeds for the first vehicle system according to at least one of distance, location, or time based on the constraint such that the first vehicle system maintains a designated spacing from the second vehicle system along the route.

Abstract: A resistor of a powered system includes an elongated body that extends from a first terminal end to an opposite second terminal end. The body forms a continuous path that extends from the first terminal end to the second terminal end and that forms a disc. The body is configured to receive electric current from the powered system at the first terminal end and conduct and provide electric resistance to the electric current received from the powered system to dissipate at least part of the electric current as heat from the body. The second terminal end of the body is configured to be coupled with at least one other resistor of the powered system in one or more of a parallel or series arrangement in an electric circuit.

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 system includes a conversion circuit of a vehicle system that conductively couples a conversion device with first motors of the vehicle system. The electrical conversion device converts non-electrical energy into conversion-based electric current that is conducted to the first motors. The system also includes a storage circuit of the vehicle system that conductively couples a storage device with second motors of the vehicle system. The storage device supplies stored electric current to the second motors of the vehicle system. The system also includes a controller configured to control the second motors to brake and generate charging electric current that is conducted through the storage circuit to charge the storage device. The conversion circuit and the storage circuit are separate circuits such that the storage device is not charged with the conversion-based electric current conducted in the conversion circuit.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, system and methods are provided, comprising an electrical installation; one of a permanent magnet motor and a permanent magnet generator; a circuit operative to provide current to operate one of the motor and the generator; one or more sensors coupled to the electrical installation, wherein the one or more sensors are operative to detect an overcurrent in the circuit and to generate an overcurrent signal; one or more inductors; and an inductance module control operative to: receive the overcurrent signal from the one or more sensors; determine how to insert one or more inductors to reduce an amplitude of the overcurrent; activate the one or more inductors based on the determination; and deactivate the one or more inductors when the overcurrent is not detected. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: A vehicle control system determines an upper non-zero limit on deceleration of a vehicle to prevent rollback of the vehicle down a grade being traveled up on by the vehicle. The upper non-zero limit on deceleration is determined by the controller based on a payload carried by the vehicle, a speed of the vehicle, and a grade of a route being traveled upon by the vehicle. The controller is configured to monitor the deceleration of the vehicle, and to automatically prevent the deceleration of the vehicle from exceeding the upper non-zero limit by controlling one or more of a brake or a motor of the vehicle. The controller also is configured to one or more of actuate the brake or supply current to the motor of the vehicle to prevent rollback of the vehicle while the vehicle is moving up the grade at a non-zero speed.

Abstract: A locomotive communication system includes a lead communication device wirelessly communicating command messages to remote communication devices onboard a rail vehicle system during a messaging cycle. The lead device receives reply messages from the remote devices during the messaging cycle in response to the command messages. The lead device receives a status signal from at least one of the remote devices during a guard interval that follows completion of the messaging cycle. The lead device communicates the command message and receives the reply messages using analog modulation or digital modulation. The lead communication device also receives the status signal using the other of the analog modulation or the digital modulation. The command messages, the reply messages, and the status signal are communicated using a designated frequency channel.