Abstract: A vehicle brake system includes a back plate that may support a composite pad, and at least one conditioning insert coupled to the back plate and that may contact a surface of a wheel during a braking event and thereby to condition at least a portion of the surface of the wheel. Optionally, the back plate can define a U-shaped coupler that is centrally located and has two ends that are distal from the coupler. The back plate can have a centerline extending from a first end of the ends to a second end of the ends while passing through a center of the back plate, and the at least one conditioning insert can be disposed off of the centerline so as to not be centrally disposed.

Abstract: A lock mechanism includes a release cam assembly configured to be articulated around an axis of a spindle, an isolation lock unlock linkage, a primary lock unlock linkage, and a door panel suspension. Responsive to an emergency release being pulled, the isolation lock unlock linkage and the primary lock unlock linkage are configured to be sequentially actuated in a sequence that includes a) unlocking an isolation lock when the isolation lock previously was in a locked position, b) unlocking a primary door lock by rotational stroke motion of the spindle, and c) rotating the spindle in an open direction.

Abstract: A track pad assembly for a continuous track vehicle includes a track plate and a polymer pad. The track plate includes a plate body having a tread surface, and one or more mesh arrays attached to the tread surface of the plate body. The polymer pad is attached to the mesh array(s) and to interstitial areas of the tread surface defined by cells of the mesh array(s), e.g., by press bonding in conjunction with an adhesive. The polymer pad may be made of an elastomer such as hardened rubber.

Abstract: A set and release retainer valve assembly of an air brake system engages and releases an air brake while retaining a designated pressure within a brake cylinder. The pressure is retained within the brake cylinder to generate a higher brake cylinder pressure on a subsequent brake application and/or prevent movement of the vehicle system after release of the air brake system. The air brake is subsequently re-engaged to re-set the retaining valve assembly and exhaust the designated air pressure out of the brake cylinder, where the air brake of the vehicle system is released to permit the movement of the vehicle system after re-setting the retaining valve assembly.

Abstract: A vehicle brake system includes a back plate that may support a composite pad, and at least one conditioning insert coupled to the back plate and that may contact a surface of a wheel during a braking event and thereby to condition at least a portion of the surface of the wheel. Optionally, the back plate can define a U-shaped coupler that is centrally located and has two ends that are distal from the coupler. The back plate can have a centerline extending from a first end of the ends to a second end of the ends while passing through a center of the back plate, and the at least one conditioning insert can be disposed off of the centerline so as to not be centrally disposed.

Abstract: A vehicle braking calibration system and related method includes a valve fluidly coupled with a vehicle braking system of a vehicle. The valve is configured to move between an open position and a closed position to control an amount of a fluid that is directed out of the braking system. A sensor detects one or more characteristics of the fluid that is directed out of the braking system. A controller determines a state of the braking system based on the one or more characteristics of the fluid.

Abstract: A brake control system includes one or more processors communicatively connected to at least one sensor configured to output at least one property measurement of air in a brake pipe of a vehicle braking assembly. The one or more processors are configured to determine, based on the at least one property measurement, a pressure reduction lower limit (PRLL) in the brake pipe. The one or more processors are further configured to control movement of a vehicle system that includes the brake pipe to enforce the PRLL by preventing a pressure reduction in the brake pipe that is less than the PRLL while one or more air reservoirs of the vehicle braking assembly are at a reduced charge state.

Abstract: A system is provided that include at least one positioning system that can detect a location or position of a vehicle or a portion of a vehicle group that includes the vehicle, at least one sensor positioned on or associated with the vehicle that can generate sensor data of a determined parameter or condition, and a controller in communication with the sensor and the positioning system. The controller can determine that a hazard event has occurred based at least partially on sensor data, and can communicate a hazard event notification based at least in part on the location data and the sensor data to a remote server.

Abstract: System includes one or more processors configured to receive location data from a device communication unit and from at least a first communication unit and a second communication unit that are positioned relative to a vehicle. The location data includes a device spatial location of the device communication unit, a first spatial location of the first communication unit, and a second spatial location of the second communication unit. The one or more processors are further configured to determine a vehicle spatial location of a designated point of the vehicle. The one or more processors are further configured to generate a virtual model. The virtual model, when used by a positioning system to locate the vehicle, indicates the vehicle spatial location relative to an estimated location of the vehicle.

Abstract: A brake health monitoring system and method measure pressures in different components of a brake system of a vehicle system during movement of the vehicle system. Two or more of the pressures that are measured in the different components are compared with each other to select a health monitoring mode. One or more allowable pressures are selected based on the health monitoring mode that is selected. A state of health of the brake system is determined by comparing one or more of the pressures that is measured with the one or more allowable pressures that are selected.

Abstract: A monitoring system includes a sensor that may output a sensed moving speed of a vehicle system. The monitoring system may also include one or more processors in communication with the sensor. The one or more processors may calculate a predicted speed of the vehicle system based on one or more forces acting on the vehicle system, and compare the predicted speed with the sensed moving speed. The one or more processors may also control movement of the vehicle system based on comparing the predicted speed with the sensed moving speed.

Abstract: A brake monitoring system monitors pressures in a brake system of a vehicle system at different locations in the vehicle system. Decreases in the pressures are determined at two or more of the different locations. The times at which the decreases in the pressures occurred are determined. A location of interest of a leak in the brake system is determined by comparing the times at which the decreases in the pressures occurred.

Abstract: A vehicle warning system and method receive an information notification from a first vehicle system at a second vehicle system. The information notification includes traversal information associated with a position of the first vehicle system and/or an identifier associated with the first vehicle system. The information notification also including a warning that indicates of the second vehicle system is moving too close to the first vehicle system and/or the first vehicle system and the second vehicle system are headed toward an intersection. A decision is made as to whether a response should be sent based on the information notification and sending the response based on the information notification to the first vehicle system. The response includes a command to slow down or stop to avoid a collision with the first vehicle system.

Abstract: A vehicle control system and method receive vehicle makeup information from multiple vehicles in a multi-vehicle system. The vehicle makeup information represents one or more characteristics of the vehicles. The vehicle makeup information is received at a controlling vehicle of the vehicles in the multi-vehicle system that controls movement of the multi-vehicle system. The controlling vehicle also receives locations from location-determining devices respectively onboard the vehicles in the multi-vehicle system. The controlling vehicle controls operation of the multi-vehicle system using a combination of the vehicle makeup information received from the vehicles and the locations of the vehicles.

Abstract: A vehicle monitoring device includes a camera or other optical sensor configured to be disposed at a trailing end of a first vehicle system. The camera or other optical sensor is configured to output one or more images or video of a field of view behind the first vehicle system. The monitoring device also includes a controller configured to receive output from one or more sensors and to activate the camera or other optical sensor to output the one or more images or video based on the output from the one or more sensors. The output from the one or more sensors indicates one or more of a change in movement of the first vehicle system, a temperature, an acoustic sound, or movement of a second vehicle system.

Abstract: A remote initialization system and method for a vehicle system receive trip data for an upcoming trip at an off-board device. Using the off-board device, the trip data is communicated to the different back-office systems, and one or more of mandatory directives or software configuration requirements are received at the off-board device from the different back-office systems. An initialization data set that includes at least some of the trip data and at least some of the one or more of the mandatory directives or the software configuration requirements is communicated from the off-board device to an onboard controller of the vehicle system. The initialization data set is configured to be used by the onboard controller to control movement of the vehicle system in the different sets of the routes.

Abstract: A system that may include a first route circuit that may be configured to be coupled with a first route section and may be configured to generate a first location coded signal that is unique to the first route section responsive to a vehicle being located on or within the first route section. A second route circuit may be configured to be coupled with a second route section and configured to generate a second location coded signal that is unique to the second route section and that is different from the first location coded signal, the second route circuit configured to generate the second location coded signal responsive to the vehicle being located on or within the second route section. A controller may be configured to receive the first location coded signal and the second location coded signal and determine a location of the vehicle based on the first location coded signal or the second location coded signal.

Abstract: A vehicle control system receives signals from sensors on board a first vehicle and plural other, second vehicles. Based on the signals received from the sensors, the system determines a brake assessment of a brake system, where the brake assessment includes a state of health of the brake system and/or a location of interest of a leak in the brake system. The system controls movement of the first vehicle and the second vehicles relative to at least one remote vehicle system based at least in part on the brake assessment that is determined.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for determining ancillary subdivision/districts may include obtaining track data associated with one or more railroads operating one or more subdivisions/districts over which the train may travel, determining an ancillary subdivision/district of the one or more subdivisions/districts that are not included in the track data by any of the one or more railroads, receiving track data for the railroad associated with the ancillary subdivision/district, and communicating with one or more wayside interface units in the ancillary subdivision/district based on the track data.