Abstract: Systems, methods, and non-transitory machine-readable media for remote monitoring and for detecting that a handbrake has been activated and an impact event may have occurred. In one or more example embodiments, a device for detecting a handbrake or impact event includes a controller having one or more processors, a data array, an accelerometer, and memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the controller to obtain from an accelerometer acceleration data indicating longitudinal acceleration of a railcar, store the acceleration data in the data array, and provide an indication that a handbrake or impact event has occurred.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and non-transitory machine-readable media for configuring a device remote monitoring and for detecting railcar events are disclosed. In one or more example embodiments, a device for detecting railcar events includes a controller having one or more processors, a data array, an accelerometer, and memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the controller receive, from a server, a cryptographic authentication key, determine an electronic mailbox associated with a device configuration for the device, obtain, based on periodically checking the electronic mailbox, the device configuration, authenticate; using the cryptographic authentication key, the device configuration; and perform, based on the device configuration, an update to the device.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and non-transitory machine-readable media for tracking the state of a rail car are disclosed. In one or more example embodiments, a device may use sensors such as a spring height sensor or a time of flight sensor to determine a status of a load car, which may be associated with a location. The system may determine a delivery event at the location. This data may be correlated with spring usage data.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and non-transitory machine-readable media for remote monitoring and for detecting that an axle of a railcar is in a hunting condition in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one or more example embodiments, a device for detecting a hunting condition of a railcar axle that includes a controller having one or more processors, a data array, an accelerometer, and memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the controller to obtain from an accelerometer acceleration data indicating lateral acceleration of a railcar, store the acceleration data in the data array, determine multiple standard deviations of accelerometer readings based on the acceleration data stored in the data array, and provide an indication that an axle of the railcar is in a hunting condition based on at least one of the standard deviations of accelerometer readings satisfying a standard deviation threshold.

Abstract: Systems and methods for remote monitoring and verifying railcar locations in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, a computing device for verifying a rail car location includes a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when read by the processor cause the computing device to determine a car load state change for a rail car, identify an event corresponding to the car load state change, wherein the event includes an event location, determine a car location of the rail car, establish a geofence based on the car location, determine location information based on the geofence, and verify the car location based on the location information and the event location.

Abstract: A vibration and noise reduction method and apparatus for a fluid reservoir containing an automotive fluid and having a bottom wall. At least a portion of the fluid reservoir is formed of or carries a shape changing material undergoing shape change at a threshold temperature. A controller detects a match between a vehicle operating vibration frequency at a measured vehicle operating characteristic and the resonant vibration frequency of the fluid reservoir and varies the resonant vibration frequency of the fluid reservoir by changing the stiffness of at least a portion of the fluid reservoir through the supply of heat to the fluid reservoir resulting in a change in the shape of at least the shape changing material in the fluid reservoir. The heat is supplied from an electrical conductor in heat transfer relation with the fluid reservoir or an elevated temperature of the automotive fluid in the fluid reservoir.

Abstract: A vibration and noise abatement reduction method and apparatus for a fluid reservoir containing an automotive fluid and having a bottom wall. At least a portion of the fluid reservoir is formed of or carries a shape memory change material undergoing shape change at a threshold temperature. A controller detects a match between the vehicle vibration frequency at a measured vehicle operating characteristic and the resonant frequency of the fluid reservoir and varies the resonant vibration frequency of the fluid reservoir by changing the stiffness of at least a portion of the reservoir through the supply of heat to the fluid reservoir resulting in a change in the shape of at least the shape memory change material in the fluid reservoir. The heat is supplied from an electrical conductor in heat transfer relation with the fluid reservoir or an elevated temperature of the automotive fluid in the fluid reservoir.