Abstract: A system includes one or more processors and a communication device onboard a first remote vehicle of a vehicle system that includes a controlling vehicle. The one or more processors are configured to establish a communication link with the controlling vehicle, and, in a first mode of operation, to automatically control movement of the designated remote vehicle responsive to movement-control messages received from the controlling vehicle over the communication link. The one or more processors are also configured, responsive to receipt of a designated suspend message from the controlling vehicle, to switch the designated remote vehicle from the first mode of operation to a second mode of operation where movement of the designated remote vehicle is controlled independently of the controlling vehicle while maintaining the communication link.

Abstract: A system includes one or more processors and a communication device onboard a first remote vehicle of a vehicle system that includes a controlling vehicle. The one or more processors are configured to establish a communication link with the controlling vehicle, and, in a first mode of operation, to automatically control movement of the designated remote vehicle responsive to movement-control messages received from the controlling vehicle over the communication link. The one or more processors are also configured, responsive to receipt of a designated suspend message from the controlling vehicle, to switch the designated remote vehicle from the first mode of operation to a second mode of operation where movement of the designated remote vehicle is controlled independently of the controlling vehicle while maintaining the communication link.

Abstract: A communication system includes wired communication devices onboard vehicles of a vehicle system, wireless communication devices disposed onboard other vehicles, and a controller. The controller remotely controls movement of some vehicles via communication with the wired communication devices and establishes a wireless communication link with other vehicles. The controller remotely controls movement of the other vehicles via wireless communication responsive to these vehicles being connected to the vehicle system for temporarily assisting in vehicle system movement along one or more routes. These vehicles are configured to be disconnected from wired communication with the other vehicles subsequent to being connected to the vehicle system. The wireless communication link is in addition to any wireless communication links established in the vehicle system prior to the one or more second vehicles being connected to the vehicle system.

Abstract: Communication methods and systems wirelessly communicate onboard messages between communication devices onboard the same vehicle. The communication devices can wirelessly communicate with other communication devices onboard other vehicles in a vehicle system for remote control of the vehicles. Receipt of the onboard messages at the communication devices is determined, and operative states of the communication devices are determined based at least in part on the receipt of the onboard messages at the communication devices. Determining these operative states in this manner can allow for an operator to identify communication faults with the communication devices prior to departing the vehicle.

Abstract: A communication system includes wired communication devices onboard vehicles of a vehicle system, wireless communication devices disposed onboard other vehicles, and a controller. The controller remotely controls movement of some vehicles via communication with the wired communication devices and establishes a wireless communication link with other vehicles. The controller remotely controls movement of the other vehicles via wireless communication responsive to these vehicles being connected to the vehicle system for temporarily assisting in vehicle system movement along one or more routes. These vehicles are configured to be disconnected from wired communication with the other vehicles subsequent to being connected to the vehicle system. The wireless communication link is in addition to any wireless communication links established in the vehicle system prior to the one or more second vehicles being connected to the vehicle system.

Abstract: A system and method communicate a command message from a lead vehicle in a vehicle consist having remote vehicles and the lead vehicle. The command message includes a directive for controlling operations of the remote vehicles. The command message is received at the remote vehicles and reply messages are communicated in response thereto. The reply messages include statuses of the remote vehicles. Responsive to determining that the lead vehicle does not receive the reply message from one or more of the remote vehicles, the statuses of the one or more remote vehicles from which the reply messages are not received at the lead vehicle are sent and/or combined into an individual or concatenated relayed message. The individual or concatenated relayed messages are communicated to the lead vehicle such that the lead vehicle receives the statuses of the one or more remote vehicles.

Abstract: A method for remotely controlling a vehicle system includes selectively identifying, among two or more consists in the vehicle system, a selected consist to remotely control. Each of the two or more consists including a propulsion-generating vehicle. The method also includes initiating remote control of the propulsion-generating vehicle in the selected consist and remotely controlling at least one of tractive effort or braking effort provided by the propulsion-generating vehicle in the selected consist using a remote control device. The at least one of tractive effort or braking effort provided by the propulsion-generating vehicle in the selected consist is controlled without remotely controlling tractive effort or braking effort provided by the propulsion-generating vehicle in at least one other consist in the vehicle system.

Abstract: Communication methods and systems wirelessly communicate onboard messages between communication devices onboard the same vehicle. The communication devices can wirelessly communicate with other communication devices onboard other vehicles in a vehicle system for remote control of the vehicles. Receipt of the onboard messages at the communication devices is determined, and operative states of the communication devices are determined based at least in part on the receipt of the onboard messages at the communication devices. Determining these operative states in this manner can allow for an operator to identify communication faults with the communication devices prior to departing the vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a vehicle system control movement of the vehicle system along a route. The vehicle system includes one or more propulsion-generating vehicles. A propulsion-generating helper vehicle is temporarily added to the vehicle system such that the helper vehicle increases one or more of an amount of tractive force or an amount of braking effort generated by the vehicle system. The helper vehicle may be added during movement of the vehicle system. The system and method may add the helper vehicle without de-linking the propulsion-generating vehicles in the vehicle system from each other. The system and method optionally may control movement of the propulsion-generating vehicles and the helper vehicle according to a trip plan that designates operational settings as a function of at least one of time or distance along the route.

Abstract: Systems and methods for communicatively linking vehicles in a vehicle consist are provided. In one aspect, a lead vehicle can communicate a link command message to several remote vehicles. The link command message includes vehicle identifiers and/or a consist identifier. At the remote vehicles, if a vehicle identifier or a consist identifier stored onboard a remote vehicle matches the vehicle identifiers and/or consist identifier received in the link command message, the remote vehicle is communicatively linked with the lead vehicle to permit control of the remote vehicle by the lead vehicle. In another aspect, a vehicle identifier of the lead vehicle is stored onboard the remote vehicles. If the vehicle identifier stored on the remote vehicle matches a vehicle identifier received in the link command message, the remote vehicle is communicatively linked with the lead vehicle to permit control of the remote vehicle by the lead vehicle.

Abstract: A method for controlling automatic shut off of an engine includes determining if a control system of a propulsion-generating vehicle is operating in a remote control mode or an onboard control mode. The operations of the vehicle are remotely controlled from an off-board source when the control system is in the remote control mode. The operations of the vehicle are controlled from onboard the vehicle when the control system is in the onboard control mode. The method also includes deactivating an automatic engine start-stop (AESS) device responsive to the control system being in or switched to the remote control mode. The AESS device automatically turns off an engine of the vehicle when operations of the engine are below one or more designated thresholds for at least a designated period of time. The AESS device is prevented from automatically turning the engine off when the AESS device is deactivated.

Abstract: A method for communicating includes transmitting a command message from a lead vehicle to remote vehicles in a vehicle consist. Reply messages are transmitted from the remote vehicles to the lead vehicle. The reply messages include statuses of the remote vehicles that transmitted the reply messages. The status of a first remote vehicle but not of the second remote vehicle is received at the lead vehicle and the status of a second remote vehicle is received at the first remote vehicle. The status of the second remote vehicle is stored at the first remote vehicle a retry message is transmitted from the lead vehicle to the remote vehicles. The retry message is received at the first remote vehicle and a repeat message is transmitted from the first remote vehicle to the lead vehicle that includes the status of the second remote vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method communicate a command message from a lead vehicle in a vehicle consist having remote vehicles and the lead vehicle. The command message includes a directive for controlling operations of the remote vehicles. The command message is received at the remote vehicles and reply messages are communicated in response thereto. The reply messages include statuses of the remote vehicles. Responsive to determining that the lead vehicle does not receive the reply message from one or more of the remote vehicles, the statuses of the one or more remote vehicles from which the reply messages are not received at the lead vehicle are sent and/or combined into an individual or concatenated relayed message. The individual or concatenated relayed messages are communicated to the lead vehicle such that the lead vehicle receives the statuses of the one or more remote vehicles.

Abstract: A method for remotely controlling a vehicle system includes selectively identifying, among two or more consists in the vehicle system, a selected consist to remotely control. Each of the two or more consists including a propulsion-generating vehicle. The method also includes initiating remote control of the propulsion-generating vehicle in the selected consist and remotely controlling at least one of tractive effort or braking effort provided by the propulsion-generating vehicle in the selected consist using a remote control device. The at least one of tractive effort or braking effort provided by the propulsion-generating vehicle in the selected consist is controlled without remotely controlling tractive effort or braking effort provided by the propulsion-generating vehicle in at least one other consist in the vehicle system.

Abstract: A method for controlling automatic shut off of an engine includes determining if a control system of a propulsion-generating vehicle is operating in a remote control mode or an onboard control mode. The operations of the vehicle are remotely controlled from an off-board source when the control system is in the remote control mode. The operations of the vehicle are controlled from onboard the vehicle when the control system is in the onboard control mode. The method also includes deactivating an automatic engine start-stop (AESS) device responsive to the control system being in or switched to the remote control mode. The AESS device automatically turns off an engine of the vehicle when operations of the engine are below one or more designated thresholds for at least a designated period of time. The AESS device is prevented from automatically turning the engine off when the AESS device is deactivated.

Abstract: A method for preventing rollback of a rail vehicle from a stopped condition, includes receiving a first signal indicative of the rail vehicle's location, and, in response to the first signal, selecting from a lookup table one of a first plurality of pre-determined values of a braking parameter and selecting from the lookup table one of a second plurality of pre-determined values of a tractive effort parameter. In response to an order for movement, the method includes applying brakes of the rail vehicle, according to the selected value of the braking parameter; establishing tractive effort of the rail vehicle, according to the selected value of the tractive effort parameter; and, then, releasing the brakes of the rail vehicle to establish motion of the rail vehicle from the stopped condition.

Abstract: A method for communicating includes transmitting a command message from a lead vehicle to remote vehicles in a vehicle consist. Reply messages are transmitted from the remote vehicles to the lead vehicle. The reply messages include statuses of the remote vehicles that transmitted the reply messages. The status of a first remote vehicle but not of the second remote vehicle is received at the lead vehicle and the status of a second remote vehicle is received at the first remote vehicle. The status of the second remote vehicle is stored at the first remote vehicle a retry message is transmitted from the lead vehicle to the remote vehicles. The retry message is received at the first remote vehicle and a repeat message is transmitted from the first remote vehicle to the lead vehicle that includes the status of the second remote vehicle.