Abstract: A method for operating a collector assembly of a vehicle that receives electric current from a conductive pathway extending along a route being traversed by the vehicle to power loads of the vehicle. The method includes moving the collector assembly relative to the conductive pathway to examine one or more mechanical components of the collector assembly and sensing one or more electrical characteristics of the electric current conducted to the vehicle from the conductive pathway and through the collector assembly to test electrical components of the collector assembly or the vehicle. The method may implement responsive actions to control operation of the vehicle based on outcomes of one or more of an examination of the mechanical components or the test of the electrical components.

Abstract: An assembly may be provided that includes a controller configured to be coupled with at least one blower drive that operates a blower motor to cool resistive elements that dissipate electrical power as heat. The controller may be configured to determine whether the electrical power is no longer received by the resistive elements and operate the at least one blower drive to operate the blower motor to cool the resistive elements responsive to the electrical power no longer being received by the resistive elements.

Abstract: A method including detecting that a vehicle that may be propelled by an electric drive system having one or more motors disconnects or begins disconnecting from an off-board source of power while the one or more motors are being powered by the off-board source of power. The method may include supplanting a decreasing amount of a first electric energy supplied by the off-board source of power to the electric drive system with an amount of a second electric energy supplied by an onboard source of power to the electric drive system responsive to the detection of the disconnect from the off-board source of power.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling operation of a vehicle system are provided. This vehicle system can be at least partially powered by electric current conducted to a collector device of the vehicle system from a conductive pathway extending along a route traveled by the vehicle system. A voltage level of the conductive pathway may be monitored, and a conduction impaired location of the conductive pathway may be identified based at least in part on the voltage level of the conductive pathway that is monitored. The collector device or a removal device may be controlled to remove a contaminant from the conductive pathway at the conduction impaired location, the vehicle system may be controlled to compensate for the conduction impaired location, and/or an off-board facility and/or another vehicle system may be notified of the conduction impaired location responsive to identifying the conduction impaired location.

Abstract: System and method configured to determine a direction of movement of a vehicle in response to a brake being released or in response to initiating movement of the vehicle from a stopped position along a route. The direction of movement is determined based on a selected travel direction of the vehicle, a grade of the route, and at least one of applied tractive efforts or applied braking efforts.

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: A control system includes an interface device having a body extending between a first end and a second end and that provides power to a vehicle system from an external power source. Sensors may be coupled with the interface device and detect sensor data associated with the coupling of the external power source with the interface device. A controller receives the sensor data from the sensors and determines a coupling location at which the external power source is coupled with the interface device. The coupling location may be at a first position between the first end and the second end of the interface device. The controller controls movement of the vehicle system to change the coupling location between the external power source and the interface device from the first position to a second position between the first and second ends of the body.

Abstract: A modular rack system and method includes a rack having plural electrical interfaces, and plural module panels configured to mate with the electrical interfaces of the rack. The module panels have one or more of a common exterior size or a common exterior shape. At least two of the module panels have different internal electrical components configured to perform different operations. The rack is configured to be conductively coupled with a power delivery system of a vehicle and the module panels are configured to modify electric current prior to the electric current being supplied to the power delivery system of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle power delivery assembly that includes a mast configured to couple with a vehicle such that the mast projects from the vehicle, and a collection arm configured to be coupled with the mast in a location apart from the vehicle to engage an off-board source of electric current that is off-board the vehicle while the vehicle moves along one or more routes. One or more of the mast or the collection arm is formed from at least one inductive support member that provides an integrated inductor of the one or more of the mast or the collection arm through which at least some of the electric current that is received from the off-board source of the electric current is filtered prior to being conducted to the vehicle.

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 module panel and method include an exterior housing, at least one heat sink disposed in the housing, a power delivery circuit disposed in the housing and coupled to one side of the at least one heat sink, and a controller circuit disposed in the housing and coupled to an opposite side of the at least one heat sink. The power delivery circuit operates using one or more different voltages than the controller circuit.

Abstract: A method and system include determining a resonant frequency of a vehicle system operably coupled with an external power source that provides voltage and current to the vehicle system. A first filter extracts a phase or a frequency component from the voltage provided by the external power source to generate a stabilizing voltage component. A second filter extracts a phase or a frequency component from the current provided by the external power source to generate a stabilizing current component. The stabilizing voltage component is out of phase with the stabilizing current component. A control input of a converter device of the vehicle system is determined based on the stabilizing voltage component, the stabilizing current component, and the resonant frequency. The stabilizing voltage component, the stabilizing current component, and the control input are communicated with the converter device to change the resonant frequency of the vehicle system.

Abstract: A monitoring system and method determine a consumption metric representative of one or more of an amount of fuel consumed or an amount of energy consumed by a vehicle during travel over a route. The consumption metric is independent of one or more of vehicle load or elevation change over the route. The system and method optionally can determine a route condition metric representative of a condition of a route traveled upon by a vehicle. The route condition metric is based on a comparison between an actual grade of the route at one or more locations along the route and an estimated grade of the route at the one or more locations.

Abstract: A resistive grid includes a frame and at least one resistive element. The frame has a first frame end and a second frame end opposite the first frame end. The first frame end and the second frame end are joined by frame sides. The first frame end has a first length that is shorter than a second length of the second frame end. The at least one resistive element extends between the first frame end and the second frame end. The at least one resistive element has a first portion proximate the first frame end, and a second portion proximate the second frame end. The first portion is configured to have one or both of decreased heat generation or decreased electrical resistance relative to the second portion.

Abstract: A resistor includes an elongated cylindrical body having nodes and elongated members. The elongated members interconnect the nodes to form openings between the nodes and the elongated members for the flow therethrough of a cooling fluid. The body is configured to receive electric current from a powered system and to conduct and provide electric resistance to the electric current to dissipate at least part of the electric current as heat from the body. The body may 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 monitoring system and method determine a consumption metric representative of one or more of an amount of fuel consumed or an amount of energy consumed by a vehicle during travel over a route. The consumption metric is independent of one or more of vehicle load or elevation change over the route. The system and method optionally can determine a route condition metric representative of a condition of a route traveled upon by a vehicle. The route condition metric is based on a comparison between an actual grade of the route at one or more locations along the route and an estimated grade of the route at the one or more locations.

Abstract: Cooling control systems described herein detect decreased operation of a cooling system of a vehicle, restrict movement of the vehicle without stopping movement responsive to decreased operation of the cooling system, and restrict movement of the vehicle by preventing the vehicle from traveling at a speed and/or power output for a non-zero designated period of time. This can allow for the vehicle to continue moving for a temporary period of time to avoid blocking traffic. Other control systems determine predicted distances and/or times that the vehicle can continue moving before coolant in the cooling system decreases below a designated threshold. Movement of the vehicle can be changed responsive to an upcoming distance and/or time that the vehicle is to travel exceeding the predicted distance and/or time. Other control systems modify a coolant flow rate based on differences between designated and ambient conditions.

Abstract: A resistor includes an elongated cylindrical body having nodes and elongated members. The elongated members interconnect the nodes to form openings between the nodes and the elongated members for the flow therethrough of a cooling fluid. The body is configured to receive electric current from a powered system and to conduct and provide electric resistance to the electric current to dissipate at least part of the electric current as heat from the body. The body also 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 diffusing assembly includes a power diffusing body disposed along a flow path of a compressible fluid. The power diffusing body includes passages extending through the power diffusing body and through which at least part of the fluid flows through the power diffusing body. The power diffusing body receives an incoming flow profile of the fluid on an inlet side of the power diffusing body, directs the fluid through the passages in the power diffusing body, and outputs an outgoing flow profile of the fluid out of an outlet side of the power diffusing body. Arrangements of the passages in the power diffusing body are based on the incoming flow profile of the fluid that are received by the power diffusing body and are based on a desired profile of the outgoing flow profile of the fluid exiting out of the power diffusing body.