Abstract: A thread box assembly includes a framing body coupled with a moveable arm of a thread box system that positions rails of a track. The framing body includes external framing walls with an upward facing open side. The framing body includes framing supporting walls between the external walls. Supporting walls may couple the framing walls with each other. The assembly includes a closing body that can be removably coupled with the framing body. The closing body includes opposing elongated bars and opposing internal coupling walls. The elongated bars are oriented perpendicular to the coupling walls. The closing body is fastened to the framing body to define and surround a central opening of the thread box assembly through which the rails extend during installation or replacement of the track without the closing body moving relative to the framing body.

Abstract: A clamp assembly may include a housing that can be positionable alongside an elongated body, one or more clamps that can be pivotally couplable with the housing, and an actuator that may pivot the one or more clamps relative to the housing. The clamps may selectively engage the elongated body to thereby restrict movement of the elongated body relative to the housing.

Abstract: An assembly is provided that may include a platform that may be coupled with a vehicle. The platform may rotate from a first platform position to a second platform position relative to a chassis of the vehicle. The assembly may include an extendable ramp coupled to the platform and configured to extend relative to the platform from a first ramp position to a second ramp position. This ramp may be positioned in the second platform position to allow a second vehicle to be driven up the ramp and onto the first vehicle, with the ramp then moved to the first platform position to allow the first vehicle to carry the second vehicle to another location. The ramp can be moved to the first platform position to the second platform position to allow the second vehicle to disembark from the first vehicle and travel separately from the first vehicle.

Abstract: A fastener system and method includes a controller having one or more processors that obtain image information associated with a tie plate. The tie plate includes one or more holes, and each hole is configured to receive a fastener. A fastener driving unit drives the fastener into at least one of the one or more holes. The controller controls movement of the fastener driving unit to move the fastener driving unit to a location corresponding to the at least one hole, and the controller controls movement of the fastener driving unit to drive the fastener into the at least one hole.

Abstract: A rail tie handling system is provided that includes at least one chassis that either has self-propulsion or can be coupled to a vehicle having a propulsion system, or both. The handling system includes a conveyor segment, a bundler segment, and an unloader segment. The conveyor can receive rail ties and to provide them upon demand or request. The bundler can receive rail ties from the conveyor, to bundle the rail ties into a bundle, and to provide the bundle upon demand or request. The unloader can receive the bundle from the bundler and can unload that bundle from the handling system upon demand or request. The system includes a controller that can determine when and/or where to unload the bundle from the unloader.

Abstract: A system is provided that includes a self-propelled platform that can traverse a first rail of a first vehicle and a first rail of a second vehicle, the first rail of the first vehicle and the first rail of the second vehicle separated in spaced relation. The self-propelled platform has a wheel assembly that can engage the first rail of the first vehicle and the first rail of the second vehicle. The wheel assembly may include at least one guide extending away from the self-propelled platform and having a size and shape to engage a first rail of the first vehicle or the first rail of the second vehicle while a portion of the self-propelled platform remains on the first rail of the first vehicle and the first rail of the second vehicle, to guide the wheel assembly onto the first rail of the first vehicle or the first rail of the second vehicle.

Abstract: A system may include an imaging device to obtain image data from a field of view outside of a vehicle. A controller may analyze the image data and identify one or more vegetation features of a target vegetation within the field of view. The vegetation features may be a type, a quantity, a distance, and/or a size of vegetation. A directed energy system may direct one or more directed energy beams toward the target vegetation responsive to the controller identifying the one or more vegetation features. A method may include analyzing image data from a field of view adjacent to a vehicle and determining one or more vegetation features of target vegetation within the field of view to be removed. The method may include directing a directed energy beam(s) onto the target vegetation. The directed energy beam(s) may be controlled based in part on the one or more vegetation features.

Abstract: A control system includes a task manager that can determine capability requirements to perform a task on the target object. The task has an associated series of sub-tasks, with the sub-tasks having one or more capability requirements. The task manager selects and assigns a first sequence of sub-tasks to a first robotic machine that has a first set of capabilities and operates according to a first mode of operation. The task manager selects and assigns a second sequence of sub-tasks to a second robotic machine that has a second set of capabilities and operates according to a second mode of operation. The task manager selects the first robotic machine based on the first set of capabilities and the first mode of operation of the first robotic machine, and selects the second robotic machine based on the second set of capabilities and the second mode of operation.

Abstract: A vehicle system with spray control is provided. The vehicle system includes a vehicle platform for a vehicle, a dispenser configured to dispense a composition onto at least a portion of an environmental feature adjacent to the vehicle, and a controller configured to operate one or more of the vehicle, the vehicle platform, or the dispenser based at least in part on environmental information.