Abstract: A method includes receiving image data representative of an appearance of an equipment part prior to an inspection process and evaluating the image data with a machine learning model that defines baseline image data to determine whether the image data indicates the equipment part has been prepared for the inspection. The inspection process may be prevented when the evaluation indicates that the equipment part has not been prepared. A system includes a controller that receives image data representative of an appearance of an equipment part obtained prior to an inspection process. The controller uses a machine learning model to evaluate the image data with respect to baseline image data to determine whether the equipment part has been prepared for the inspection process. The controller prevents the performance of the inspection process based on the evaluation indicating that the equipment part has not been prepared for the inspection process.

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 system including a plurality of vehicles, each having disposed onboard a location device, a communication device, a control system, and an energy storage device. Thea control system may determine vehicle locations of one or more vehicles of the plurality of vehicles and states of charge of the energy storage devices onboard the one or more vehicles. The control system may communicate with the communication devices of the one or more vehicles and may direct which of one or more vehicles are to couple with each other, and thereby be powered by electric energy stored in the energy storage devices onboard the one or more vehicles directed to couple. The control system may direct which of the one or more vehicles are to couple with and be powered by the electric energy of the energy storage devices based on one or more of: the vehicle locations and the states of charge of the vehicle energy storage devices.

Abstract: A vehicle and method of operating the vehicle that is operationally non-disruptive to one or more other rail vehicles or equipment of a railroad. The vehicle including a frame, drive wheels, and articulatable arms. The articulatable arms extend from the frame and supporting the drive wheels. The articulatable arms are selectively transitionable between first orientations and second orientations, and the drive wheels are engageable with rails that are configured to support the rail vehicle having wheel pairs. In the first orientations the drive wheels engage with the rails to support the frame, and in the second orientations the drive wheels disengage from the rails.

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 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 system that includes a controller that may receive one or more input characteristics related to upcoming movement of a group of vehicles, the one or more input characteristics indicative of an amount of energy needed to move the group of the vehicles along a segment of a route. The controller may also calculate a threshold range of tractive effort needed to move the group of the vehicles along the segment of the route based on the one or more characteristics and to monitor the tractive effort expended by a propulsion-generating vehicle of the vehicles in the group to move one or more of the vehicles in the group, and determine whether the vehicles in the group are coupled with each other or whether two or more of the vehicles are not coupled with each other based on the tractive effort that is monitored and the threshold range.

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 resonant sensor probe assembly includes a substrate formed from one or more dielectric materials and free-standing electrodes coupled with the substrate. The free-standing electrodes are configured to be placed into the fluid and to generate an electric field between the free-standing electrodes. A controller measures an impedance response of the sensor to the fluid between the electrodes to determine an aging effect of the sensor.

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 diagnostic system and method obtain a thermal signature for one or more first components of a powered system. The thermal signature represents thermal measurements obtained at different locations of the powered system. The system and method identify an abnormal operating condition of the one or more first components of the powered system or one or more second components of the powered system based on the thermal signature.

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: In one example, a wayside device monitoring system is provided. The system may include a wayside device and a controller. The wayside device may detect one or more operating parameters of a vehicle in a vehicle system moving over a route segment. The controller can receive information from the wayside device regarding at least the one or more operating parameters detected, and can control movement the vehicle directly or indirectly based at least in part on the received information.

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 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 and method determine an energy demand associated with delivery of cargo in a trip. The energy demand represents how much electric energy is needed to move cargo vehicles that carry the cargo through the trip. Locations of energy tenders and states of charge of the energy tenders are determined. A schedule for the cargo vehicles to deliver the cargo to a delivery location within a delivery time slot is determined. This schedule is determined based on the energy demand, the locations of the energy tenders, and the states of charge of the energy tenders. The system and method direct which of the energy tenders that the cargo vehicles are to couple with, be powered by, and move with for powering the cargo along routes to the delivery location of the trip within the designated time slot.