Abstract: A thermal management system includes a plurality of thermal management assemblies. Each of the thermal management assemblies has a monolithic foil structure having a body with an external surface and a differently shaped and opposing internal surface. The external surface forms an outer profile and the internal surface forming an internal conduit with the outer profile and the internal conduit having different shapes. The monolithic foil structure is configured to physically isolate a first fluid flowing along the external surface from a second fluid flowing in the internal conduit. The body is configured to transfer thermal energy between the first fluid flowing along the external surface and the second fluid flowing in the internal conduit.

Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a portable operator control unit (OCU). The OCU includes a housing, a power supply inside the housing, a controller inside the housing, and a wireless communication unit attached to the housing. The controller is configured to generate control signals for controlling a vehicle from an off-board location of the OCU. The wireless communication unit is configured to wirelessly communicate the control signals to the vehicle over an LTE network.

Abstract: A method that includes coupling an external, removable fuel pressurization system to a fuel system of a vehicle. The fuel system of the vehicle is pressurized with the fuel pressurization system while the vehicle is parked and without activating a fuel consumer (e.g., an engine) of the vehicle. Decay of pressure of the fuel system is monitored following pressurization of the fuel system, and one or more of a leak, or a replaceable component, of the fuel system of the vehicle is detected based on at least in part on the decay of pressure that are monitored.

Abstract: An insert device includes a body having an upper body portion configured to couple with a cylinder head of an engine cylinder and a lower body portion extending from the upper body portion toward a combustion chamber of the engine cylinder. The body includes an interior surface extending around a central volume positioned to receive liquid fuel from a fuel injector. The body includes gas inlet channels and fuel-and-gas mixture outlet channels. The gas inlet channels direct gas into the central volume where the gas mixes with the liquid fuel to form the fuel-and-gas mixture. The fuel-and-gas mixture outlet channels direct the mixture into the combustion chamber. The interior surface includes concave surface portions between the inlet channels and the outlet channels along a center axis of the body that are shaped to direct the gas into the central volume toward the liquid fuel in the central volume.

Abstract: A system includes a blower, a blower sensor, and at least one processor. The blower sensor is operably coupled to the blower and configured to obtain blower operational information. The at least one processor is operably coupled to the blower and the blower sensor, and is configured to determine an operational-based power using the blower operational information; determine an operational-based density using the operational-based power; and control the blower using the operational-based density.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for generating exhaust energy and converting exhaust energy to electrical energy while an engine is not running. In one example, a system for an engine comprises: a first turbocharger including a first compressor driven by a first turbine, the first turbine disposed in an exhaust of the engine; a fuel burner fluidly coupled to the exhaust upstream of the first turbine; a generator coupled to one of the first turbine or an auxiliary, second turbine fluidly coupled to the exhaust downstream of the fuel burner; and one or more bypass valves configured to adjust a flow of air that bypasses the engine and is delivered to the fuel burner.

Abstract: A job aid system and method determine conditions in which a vehicle system is operating or will operate during movement of the vehicle system along one or more routes. A context-sensitive action checklist is selected or generated based on one or more of the conditions. Input from the operator of the vehicle system is received in response to one or more action items in the context-sensitive action checklist that is presented to the operator. An alertness level of the operator is determined based on the input that is received from the operator. One or more alerting actions can be implemented to increase the alertness level of the operator.

Abstract: Various systems are provided for a seal chamber of a centrifugal pump. In one example, a seal chamber housing for a centrifugal pump includes a central cavity internal to the seal chamber housing, the central cavity having a greater diameter at a first end of the seal chamber housing and a smaller diameter at a second end of the seal chamber housing, and at least one flushing passage at the second end of the seal chamber housing. The at least one flushing passage is configured to directly fluidically couple the central cavity to an exterior of the seal chamber housing. In this way, increased cooling and debris removal may be provided to a seal positioned within the seal chamber housing.

Abstract: A thermal management system includes a shaft extending along an axis and configured to rotate in at least one of two different directions about the axis, and a brake system operably coupled with the shaft. The brake system controls a speed of rotation of the shaft in the at least one of the different directions. A first fan structure is operably coupled with the shaft and disposed on a first side of the brake system, and a second fan structure is operably coupled with the shaft and disposed on a second side of the brake structure. One of the first or second fan structures is configured to direct fluid toward the brake system and the other of the first or second fan structures is configured to direct at least some of the fluid away from the brake system to control a temperature of the brake system.

Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a first controller, a first communication unit, and a second controller and communication unit both on board a vehicle. The second controller is configured to generate first control signals for controlling the vehicle based at least in part on second control signals received by the second communication unit from the first communication unit. The first controller is configured to receive proximity signals relating to a geographic proximity between two or more designated transports. The transports are respective movements of material from respective first locations to respective second locations. The first controller is further configured to generate a control plan for the two or more transports based at least in part on the proximity signals, and generate the second control signals, for communication to the second controller for controlling completion of the two or more transports, based on the control plan.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining one or more images of a segment of a route from a camera while a vehicle is moving along the route. The segment of the route includes one or more guide lanes. The method also includes comparing, with one or more computer processors, the one or more images of the segment of the route with a benchmark visual profile of the route based at least in part on an overlay of the one or more images onto the benchmark visual profile or an overlay of the benchmark visual profile onto the one or more images. The one or more processors identify a misaligned segment of the route based on one or more differences between the one or more images and the benchmark visual profile and respond to the identification of the misaligned segment of the route by modifying an operating parameter of the vehicle.

Abstract: Various systems are provided for an axially split turbocharger case housing each of a turbine of a turbocharger, a compressor of the turbocharger, and a bearing of the turbocharger. In one example, an apparatus for an engine includes a first monolithic component and a second monolithic component that, when coupled together, form a turbocharger case configured to house each of a turbine, a compressor, and a bearing, the first and second monolithic components, when coupled together, also forming a compressor shroud and a turbine shroud. In further examples of the system, portions of the turbocharger case are formed of a lattice structure.

Abstract: A system includes one or more processors configured to communicatively link a first operator control unit (OCU) disposed off-board a vehicle system with a vehicle control system (VCS) disposed onboard the vehicle system. The vehicle system is formed from first and second vehicles. The VCS is configured to remotely control movement of the second vehicle from the first vehicle, wherein the one or more processors configured to receive a control signal communicated from the first OCU to a communication device that is onboard the first vehicle. The control signal dictates a change in movement operational setting of the second vehicle. The one or more processors configured to direct the communication device to communicate the control signal from the first vehicle to the second vehicle via the VCS, wherein movement of the second vehicle is automatically changed responsive to communicating the control signal from the first vehicle to the second vehicle.

Abstract: A brake control system includes an interface controller configured to communicate with different control paths of sources for control of a brake system of a vehicle system. Each of the control paths is configured to communicate a control signal from a different source of the sources to control operation of the brake system. The interface controller is configured to arbitrate between the control signals concurrently received from the different sources via the control paths to dictate which of the different sources controls operation of the brake system at different times and prevent control by other sources of the different sources from concurrently controlling the operation of the brake system.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a method for a hybrid engine system. In one example, the method includes operating an electrical turbocharger to modify engine operating efficiency and to extend battery charge over a duration of a travel route based on a real-time status of the battery charge. The method allows fuel consumption to be decreased while meeting power demands of vehicle navigation.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a power output of a power source using a fluidic variable turbine turbocharger. In one example, a turbocharger system coupled to the power source includes a first turbocharger having a first compressor and a first turbine, and a second turbocharger having a second compressor and a second turbine, where boost air from the second compressor is directed to only a nozzle of the first turbine.

Abstract: A system includes an alternating current (AC) power component, a cable, a sensor transformer, and a sensor. The cable is coupled to the AC power component and is can conduct current to the AC power component. The sensor transformer includes a coil disposed proximate to the cable. The coil generates an induced voltage responsive to conduction of the current through the cable. The sensor is coupled to the sensor transformer and receives power from the sensor transformer. The sensor obtains information corresponding to operation of the AC power component.

Abstract: An asset identification and tracking system includes one or more monitoring units configured to monitor at least one designated area. Each of the monitoring units includes an imaging device and one or more processors. The imaging device is configured to generate image data depicting one or more mobile assets that move through the at least one designated area. The one or more processors are operably coupled to the imaging device and configured to analyze the image data to detect and decipher one or more identifiers that are displayed on a particular mobile asset of the one or more mobile assets that move through the at least one designated area. The one or more processors are further configured to generate a detection message that includes the one or more identifiers for communication to an asset control system.

Abstract: A battery control system and method selectively connect battery strings to one or more conductive buses by plural electrically controllable switches. The switches are controlled to one or more of (a) connect the strings with one or more of the load or the power source via the one or more conductive buses in a first sequence and/or (b) disconnect the strings from one or more of the load or the power source via the one or more conductive buses in a second sequence. The first sequence and the second sequence are based on one or more of states of charge between the strings, different charge capacities between the strings, different electric currents conducted through the strings, different polarities of the electric currents conducted through the strings, and/or a speed of a vehicle that is powered by the one or more loads.