Abstract: A vehicle system is provided that has an unoccupied control vehicle with no onboard driver. The control vehicle has a first propulsion system that can propel the control vehicle along a route, and optionally to stop or slow the control vehicle. One or more onboard power sources that can generate, store or both generate and store energy for powering at least the first propulsion system. A controller having one or more processors can autonomously control the propulsion system to move the control vehicle along one or more routes, and to interface with and couple to a driver-operable vehicle that has a second propulsion system. The controller can obtain control over the second propulsion system when the control vehicle is interfaced and coupled with the driver-operable vehicle.

Abstract: A control system is provided that may include a controller for a vehicle system. The controller may include one or more processors configured to obtain at least one first operating parameter related to an operating system of the vehicle system, and determine an operating condition of the operating system based at least in part on the first operating parameter. The one or more processors may also be configured to communicate with an off-board sensor to obtain at least one auxiliary operating parameter related to the operating condition, and verify the operating condition based at least in part on the auxiliary operating parameter.

Abstract: A method may include examining image deviation data of image tiles of a set that form a set view of a volume of space and determining whether the tiles are due for revision to update the tiles. The method may include scheduling a first vehicle to capture updated image tiles and/or identifying a second vehicle to capture the updated image tiles. A system may include one or more processors to examine image deviation data of image tiles of a set that form a set view of a volume of space and determine whether the one or more image tiles of the set are due for revision to update the view. The one or more processors schedule a first vehicle to move through or by the volume of space to capture one or more updated image tiles or identify a second vehicle to capture the one or more updated image tiles.

Abstract: A system and method are provided that track one or more related assets to estimate an asset location and assign a confidence score for the estimated asset location. One or more relationships between a tracked asset and one or more related assets are identified, then one or more reported locations of the one or more related assets and one or more timestamps at which the one or more reported locations of the one or more related assets were determined are obtained. An asset location of the tracked asset is estimated based on the one or more reported locations of the one or more related assets and a confidence score is calculated for the asset location that is estimated.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a railyard system. In one example, a method for managing a railyard comprises, within the railyard, positioning a cargo unit on a multi-directional pad and moving the pad multi-directionally based on a requested order for the cargo unit relative to other cargo units, where the requested order corresponds to an order of cargo units on railcars of an outbound train. The multi-directional pad may operate within an arena, where the arena includes a concrete surface depressed into the ground such that a surface of the pad is level with a surface of the ground surrounding the arena, thereby allowing railcars to be pushed onto the pad by a locomotive of a train.

Abstract: A vehicle control system and method of operation includes directing a portable distribution vehicle to a first loading location. The portable distribution vehicle may be loaded with first cargo at the first loading location. Instructions may be communicated to the portable distribution vehicle to move from the first loading location to a first distribution location, where the first cargo may be unloaded. The portable distribution vehicle may be a first type of portable distribution vehicle that is allowed to move along a designated route. Vehicles of a second type are prohibited from moving along the designated route. Operation of the portable distribution vehicle may be automatically controlled to move from the first loading location to the first distribution location without an operator onboard the portable distribution vehicle manually controlling the portable distribution vehicle.

Abstract: A transportation storage system and method includes a vehicle having a platform on a chassis, plural storage containers disposed on the platform, and electronic locksets mounted to the storage containers. Each of the storage containers includes multiple module walls that define a cavity to receive an object, and a container door mounted to the module walls at an access end of the storage container to enclose the cavity when in a closed state. The electronic locksets lock the container doors in the closed state, and provide access to the object within the respective cavity in response to receiving a corresponding unlock signal. The storage containers are oriented on the platform such that the container doors are accessible to an individual that is off-board the vehicle or that is on the platform to extract the object from the cavity or to deposit the object into the cavity.

Abstract: A vehicle system and method includes determining that a state of charge of an energy storage assembly of a receiving vehicle is insufficient to power the receiving vehicle to an upcoming location based on a difference between the state of charge and a needed amount of energy from the energy storage assembly to power the receiving vehicle to the upcoming location. The receiving vehicle may be controlled to move to an intermediate location that includes an increased traffic area or to a first donating vehicle location of plural different donating vehicle locations. The first donating vehicle location includes a predicted upcoming location of a first donating vehicle. The receiving vehicle receives energy from the first donating vehicle to charge the energy storage assembly of the receiving vehicle while both the first donating vehicle and the receiving vehicle area moving at the intermediate location.

Abstract: A vehicle according to a vehicle system and method includes a chassis, a coupler, and a platform on the chassis. The coupler is mounted to the chassis at a first end of the chassis and is configured to releasably connect the vehicle to a second vehicle. The platform is for supporting a cargo container and includes a base portion and a bridge member. The bridge member is located at an end of the platform and is extendable relative to the base portion from a retracted position to an extended position to lengthen the platform. The bridge member in the extended position projects beyond the first end of the chassis, above the coupler, towards the second vehicle for establishing a bridge to transload the cargo container from the platform to the second vehicle.

Abstract: A controller of a first vehicle system that moves along a first route and a method related thereto includes determining a first prioritization score of the first vehicle system moving along the first route. The first prioritization score indicates one or more characteristics of the first vehicle system. A second prioritization score of a second vehicle system moving along the first route or a second route that intersects the first route is received. The second prioritization score indicates one or more characteristics of the second vehicle system. A prioritization ranking is determined between the first vehicle system and the second vehicle system by comparing the first prioritization score of the first vehicle system with the second prioritization score of the second vehicle system. Movement of the first vehicle system is automatically controlled based on the prioritization ranking.

Abstract: A control system including one or more processors that may determine vehicle locations of one or more vehicles and states of charge of vehicle energy storage devices onboard the one or more vehicles. The control system may include an energy chassis having a fuel source holding a supply of fuel, an energy converter to convert at least a portion of the supply of the fuel from the fuel source into electric energy, and a communication device to communicate with the processors. The processors may direct which of the one or more vehicles are to couple with and be powered by the electric energy of the energy chassis based on one or more of: the vehicle locations, the states of charge of the vehicle energy storage devices, an amount of the supply of the fuel of the energy chassis, and a chassis location of the energy chassis.

Abstract: A control system is provided that may include a controller for a vehicle system. The controller may include one or more processors configured to obtain at least one first operating parameter related to an operating system of the vehicle system, and determine an operating condition of the operating system based at least in part on the first operating parameter. The one or more processors may also be configured to communicate with an off-board sensor to obtain at least one auxiliary operating parameter related to the operating condition, and verify the operating condition based at least in part on the auxiliary operating parameter.

Abstract: A control system is provided that may include a first sensor configured to detect a vehicle system. The control system may also include one or more processors in communication with the first sensor. The one or more processors may be configured to receive communication related to entry of the vehicle system into an area, and operate the first sensor to begin monitoring the vehicle system in response to entry of vehicle system into the area. The one or more processors may also be configured to record movement data related to the vehicle system, and determine movement of the vehicle system within the area based on the movement data.