Methods and apparatus for locomotive consist determination

• US 20010044681A1
• Filed: 12/28/2000
• Published: 11/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: GE Transportation Systems Global Signaling LLC (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Diana, David L., Doner, John R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,421,587 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/19
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2205/04 Satellite based navigation systems, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/023 Determination of driving direction of vehicle or train
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/025 Absolute localisation, e.g. providing geodetic coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/028 Determination of vehicle position and orientation within a train consist, e.g. serialisation
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/40 Handling position reports or trackside vehicle data

Abstract

A method for identifying locomotive consists within train consists determines an order and orientation of the locomotives within the identified locomotive consists. An on-board tracking system is mounted to each locomotive and includes locomotive interfaces for interfacing with other systems of the particular locomotive, a computer for receiving inputs from the interface, a GPS receiver, and a satellite communicator (transceiver). As locomotives provide location and discrete information from the field, a central data processing facility receives the raw locomotive data. The data center processes the locomotive data and determines locomotive consists.

Claims

1. A method for determining an order and orientation of locomotives within a locomotive consist using a system including, at least one on-board tracking system, at least one first satellite, and a data center, the locomotive consist including at least one locomotive, each said tracking system mounted to a respective locomotive in the consist, each locomotive including at least one sub-system related to the operation of the respective locomotive, said method comprising the steps of:

simultaneously transmitting from the at least one first satellite to each tracking system a set of locomotive location coordinates (LLC) identifying a location of the respective locomotive;

transmitting a data message to the data center;

determining which locomotive in the consist is a lead locomotive;

determining which locomotives in the consist are trailing locomotives;

determining the orientation of each trailing locomotives; and

determining the order of the trailing locomotives in the consist.

2. A method in accordance with

claim 1

wherein the data center includes at least one processor and at least one data center antenna, said step of simultaneously transmitting further comprises the steps of:

repeating the simultaneous transmission at a specified send and sample time; and

transmitting from the at least one sub-system to the computer a set of locomotives descretes, the descretes including a reverser handle position identifying the gear status of the respective locomotive, a trainlines eight (8) and nine (9) identifying the direction of travel of the respective locomotive, and an online/isolate switch position identifying the mode of the respective locomotive.

3. A method in accordance with

claim 2

wherein each tracking system includes a locomotive interface, a computer, a position sensor, a communicator, a transceiver connected to the communicator, and a position antenna connected to the position sensor, said method further comprising the steps of:

interfacing between the locomotive interface and the at least one sub-system of the respective locomotive;

transmitting inputs from the locomotive interface to the computer;

exchanging communications between the position sensor and the computer;

exchanging communications between the communicator and the computer;

exchanging communications between the transceiver and the data center; and

exchanging signals between the position antenna and the at least one first satellite.

4. A method in accordance with

claim 3

wherein the system further includes at least one second satellite and the transceiver includes a satellite transceiver, said method further including the steps of:

exchanging communications between the at least one second satellite and the at least one on-board tracking system utilizing the satellite transceiver; and

exchanging communications between the at least one second satellite and the data center utilizing the at least one data center antenna.

5. A method in accordance with

claim 4

wherein said step of transmitting a data message to the data center further comprises the steps of:

transmitting the set of LLC from each on-board tracking system to the data center using the at least one second satellite; and

transmitting the discretes from each tracking system to the data center using the at least one second satellite.

6. A method in accordance with

claim 5

wherein said step of determining which locomotive in the consist is the lead locomotive further comprises the steps of:

analyzing the data message using the data center; and

utilizing the discretes to determine which locomotive in the consist is a lead locomotive.

7. A method in accordance with

claim 6

wherein said step of determining which locomotives in the consist are trailing locomotives further comprises the steps of:

analyzing the data message using the data center; and

utilizing the discretes and the set of LLC to determine which locomotives in the consist are trailing locomotives.

8. A method in accordance with

claim 7

wherein said step of determining the orientation of each trailing locomotive further comprises the steps of:

analyzing the data message using the data center; and

utilizing the trainlines eight (8) and nine (9) to identify the direction of travel of each trailing locomotive.

9. A method in accordance with

claim 8

wherein said step of determining the order of the trailing locomotives further comprises the steps of:

analyzing the data message using the data center; and

utilizing the set of LLC to determine a positional relationship between each locomotive in the consist according to equations

∠

P_iP_jP₁≈

180°

→

P_i follows P_j,

and

φ

P_iP_jP₁≈

0°

→

P_i precedes P_j

where P₁ is the location of the lead locomotive,

P_i and P_j are the locations of trailing locomotives.

10. A method in accordance with

claim 9

wherein said step of determining the order of the trailing locomotives in the consist further comprises the steps of:

forming a matrix with all rows and columns indexed by all the locomotive in the consist; and

executing the matrix using the determined positional relationship of the locomotives.

11. A method in accordance with

claim 10

wherein said step of executing the matrix further comprises the steps of:

placing a (1) in any cell where, according to the determined positional relationships, the row entry is earlier in the consist than the column entry;

summing the total number of (1'"'"'s) in each row; and

determining the order of the trailing locomotives according to the number of (1'"'"'s) in each row, such that the row entry with the most number of (1'"'"'s) is the earliest trailing locomotive in the consist and the trailing locomotive row entry with the least number of (1'"'"'s) is the last trailing locomotive in the consist.

12. A method in accordance with

claim 3

wherein the system further includes a radio antenna and the transceiver includes a radio transceiver, said method further comprising the steps of:

exchanging communications between the radio antenna and the at least one on-board tracking system utilizing the radio transceiver; and

exchanging communications between the radio antenna and the data center utilizing the at least one data center antenna.

13. A method in accordance with

claim 12

wherein said step of transmitting a data message to the data center further comprises the steps of:

transmitting the set of LLC from each on-board tracking system to the data center utilizing the radio antenna; and

transmitting the discretes from each tracking system to the data center utilizing the radio antenna and the at least one data center antenna.

14. A method in accordance with

claim 3

wherein the system further includes at least one second satellite, one of the tracking systems is a hub on-board tracking system, and the transceiver includes a radio transceiver and a satellite transceiver, said method further comprising the steps of:

exchanging communications between the at least one second satellite and the at least one on-board tracking system utilizing the satellite transceiver;

exchanging communications between each of the at least one on-board systems and the hub on-board tracking system utilizing the radio transceiver;

exchanging communications between the hub on-board tracking system and the at least one second satellite utilizing the satellite transceiver; and

exchanging communications between the at least one second satellite and the data center utilizing the at least one data center antenna.

15. A method in accordance with

claim 14

wherein said step of transmitting a data message to the data center further comprises the steps of:

transmitting the set of LLC from each tracking system to the hub on-board tracking system using the radio transceiver;

transmitting the discretes from each tracking system to the hub on-board tracking system using the radio transceiver;

transmitting the sets of LLC from the hub on-board tracking systems to the data center using the at least one second satellite; and

transmitting the discretes from the hub on-board tracking system to the data center using the at least one second satellite.

16. A method in accordance with

claim 3

wherein the data center further includes a web server, said method further comprising the steps of:

enabling access to the data center using the Internet; and

enabling a user to view a graphical representation of the order and orientation of each locomotive in the consist using the Internet and the web server.

17. A system for determining the order and orientation of locomotives within a locomotive consist, said system comprising:

a locomotive consist comprising at least one locomotive;

at least one on-board tracking system, each said tracking system mounted to a respective locomotive in said consist;

a first satellite configured to exchange communications with said at least system; and

a data center configured to determine a location of and a positional relationship between each said locomotive in said consist.

18. A system in accordance with

claim 17

wherein said first satellite is a Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite.

19. A system in accordance with

claim 17

wherein each said locomotive in said consist comprises at least one sub-system related to the operation of the respective locomotive, each said tracking system comprises:

a locomotive interface configured to interface with said at least one sub-system of a respective locomotive;

a computer configured to receive inputs from said interface and execute all functions of a respective said tracking system;

a position sensor configured to exchange communications with said first satellite and to exchange communications with said computer;

a communicator configured to exchange communications with said computer;

a transceiver connected to said communicator configured to exchange communications with said data center; and

a position antenna connected to said position sensor configured to exchange signals with said at least one first satellite.

20. A system in accordance with

claim 19

wherein said at least one first satellite further configured to simultaneously transmit to each said tracking system a set of locomotive location coordinates (LLC) identifying a location of said respective locomotive, the simultaneous transmissions repeated at a specified send and sample time.

21. A system in accordance with

claim 19

wherein said locomotive interface further configured to receive a set of locomotive discretes from said at least one sub-system, said discretes including:

a reverser handle position for identifying a gear status of said respective locomotive;

a trainlines eight (8) and nine (9) for identifying a direction of travel of said respective locomotive; and

an online/isolate switch position for identifying a mode of said respective locomotive.

22. A system in accordance with

claim 21

wherein said data center comprises at least one processor and at least one data center antenna.

23. A system in accordance with

claim 21

wherein said transceiver comprises a satellite transceiver.

24. A system in accordance with

claim 23

further comprising a second satellite configured to exchange communications with said tracking system using said satellite transceiver, said at least one second satellite further configured to exchange communications with said data center utilizing said at least one data center antenna.

25. A system in accordance with

claim 24

wherein each said tracking system further configured to transmit a data message comprising the set of LLC and the set of discretes to said data center using said second satellite.

26. A system in accordance with

claim 25

wherein said data center further configured to analyze the data message and determine which locomotive in said consist is a lead locomotive based on the set of discretes.

27. A system in accordance with

claim 25

wherein said data center further configured to analyze the data message and determine which locomotives in said consist are a trailing locomotive based on the set of discretes and the set of LLC, said data center further configured to determine the orientation of each trailing locomotive based on the trainlines eight (8) and nine (9).

28. A system in accordance with

claim 17

wherein said data center further configured to use said set of LLC for each locomotive in said consist to determine a positional relationship between each locomotive in said consist according to the equations

∠

P_iP_jP₁≈

180°

→

P_i follows P_j,

and

∠

P_iP_jP₁≈

0°

→

P_i precedes P_j

where P₁ is the location of the lead locomotive,

P_i and P_j are the locations of trailing locomotives.

29. A system in accordance with

claim 17

wherein said data center further configured to determine an order of trailing locomotives in said consist by forming a matrix with all rows and columns indexed by all the locomotives in said consist and using the determined positional relationships of the locomotives to execute said matrix by placing a (1) in any cell where the row entry is earlier in said consist than the column entry, the order of trailing locomotives being determined according to the number of (1'"'"'s) in each row, the trailing locomotive row entry with the most (1'"'"'s) being the earliest trailing locomotive in said consist and the trailing locomotive row entry with the least (1'"'"'s) being the last trailing locomotive in said consist.

30. A system in accordance with

claim 22

wherein said transceiver comprises a radio transceiver.

31. A system in accordance with

claim 30

wherein said system further comprises a radio antenna configured to exchange communications with said tracking system using said radio transceiver, said radio antenna further configured to exchange communications with said data center utilizing said at least one data center antenna.

32. A system in accordance with

claim 31

wherein said tracking system further configured to transmit a data message comprising the set of LLC and the set of discretes to said data center using said radio antenna.

33. A system in accordance with

claim 22

further comprising a second satellite, one of said at least one on-board tracking systems comprising a hub on-board tracking system.

34. A system in accordance with

claim 33

wherein said transceiver comprises a satellite transceiver and a radio transceiver, said satellite transceiver configured to exchange communications with said second satellite, said radio transceiver configured to exchange communications between said hub on-board tracking system and each of the other of said at least one on-board tracking system.

35. A system in accordance with

claim 34

wherein each of said at least one on-board tracking systems further configured to transmit a data message comprising the set of LLC and the set of discretes to said hub on-board tracking system, said hub on-board tracking system further configured to compile a comprehensive data message comprising the data messages from each said tracking system, said hub on-board tracking system further configured to transmit the comprehensive data message to said data center using said second satellite.

36. A system in accordance with

claim 22

wherein said data center further comprises a web server configured to enable a user to access said data center using the Internet, said web server further configured to enable a user to view a graphical representation of an order and orientation of the locomotives in said consist.

37. A system for determining the order and orientation of vehicles within a vehicle consist, said system comprising:

a vehicle consist comprising at least one vehicle;

at least one on-board tracking system, each said tracking system mounted to a respective vehicle in said consist;

at least one first satellite configured to exchange communications with said at least one on-board tracking system; and

a data center configured to determine the location of each of vehicle in said consist and a positional relationship between each vehicle in said consist.

38. A system in accordance with

claim 37

wherein said at least one first satellite is a Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite.

39. A system in accordance with

claim 37

wherein each said vehicle comprises at least one sub-system related to operation of a respective said vehicle, each said tracking system comprises:

a vehicle interface configured to interface with said at least one sub-system;

a computer configured to receive inputs from said interface and execute all functions of said respective tracking system;

a position sensor configured to exchange communications with said at least one first satellite and to exchange communications with said computer;

a communicator configured to exchange communications with said computer;

a transceiver connected to said communicator configured to exchange communications with said data center; and

a position antenna connected to said position sensor configured to exchange signals with said at least one first satellite.

40. A system in accordance with

claim 39

wherein said at least one first satellite further configured to simultaneously transmit to each of said at least one on-board tracking systems a set of vehicle location coordinates (LLC) identifying a location of the respective vehicle, the simultaneous transmissions are repeated at a specified send and sample time.

41. A system in accordance with

claim 40

wherein said vehicle interface further configured to receive a set of vehicle discretes from said at least one sub-system, the discretes including:

a reverser handle position for identifying a gear status of the respective vehicle;

a vehiclelines eight (8) and nine (9) for identifying a direction of travel of the respective vehicle; and

an online/isolate switch position for identifying a mode of the respective vehicle.

42. A system in accordance with

claim 41

wherein said data center comprises at least one processor and at least one data center antenna.

43. A system in accordance with

claim 42

wherein said transceiver comprises a satellite transceiver.

44. A system in accordance with

claim 43

further comprising at least one second satellite configured to exchange communications with said at least one on-board tracking system using said satellite transceiver, said at least one second satellite further configured to exchange communications with said data center utilizing said at least one data center antenna.

45. A system in accordance with

claim 44

wherein each said tracking system further configured to transmit a data message comprising the set of LLC and the set of discretes to said data center using said at least one second satellite.

46. A system in accordance with

claim 45

wherein said data center further configured to analyze the data message and determine which vehicle in said consist is a lead vehicle based on the set of discretes.

47. A system in accordance with

claim 46

wherein said data center further configured to analyze the data message and determine which vehicles in said consist are trailing vehicles based on the set of discretes and the set of LLC, said data center further configured to determine an orientation of each trailing vehicle based on the vehiclelines eight (8) and nine (9).

48. A system in accordance with

claim 47

wherein said data center further configured to use the set of LLC for each vehicle in said consist to determine a positional relationship between each vehicle in said consist according to the equations

∠

P_iP_jP₁≈

180°

→

P_i follows P_j,

and

∠

P_iP_jP₁≈

0°

→

P_i precedes P_j

where P₁ is the location of the lead vehicle,

P_i and P_j are the locations of trailing vehicles.

49. A system in accordance with

claim 48

wherein said data center further configured to determine the order of the trailing vehicles in said consist by forming a matrix with all rows and columns indexed by all the vehicles in said consist and using the determined positional relationships of the vehicles to execute said matrix by placing a (1) in any cell where the row entry is earlier in said consist than the column entry, the order of trailing vehicles being determined according to the number of (1'"'"'s) in each row, the trailing vehicle row entry with the most (1'"'"'s) being the earliest trailing vehicle in said consist and the trailing vehicle row entry with the least (1'"'"'s) being the last trailing vehicle in said consist.

50. A system in accordance with

claim 42

wherein said transceiver comprises a radio transceiver.

51. A system in accordance with

claim 50

wherein said system further comprising a radio antenna configured to exchange communications with said at least one on-board tracking system using said radio transceiver and said radio antenna further configured to exchange communications with said data center antenna utilizing said data center antenna.

52. A system in accordance with

claim 51

wherein each said tracking system further configured to transmit a data message comprising the set of LLC and the set of discretes to said data center using said radio antenna.

53. A system in accordance with

claim 42

further comprising at least one second satellite, one said tracking system comprising a hub on-board tracking system.

54. A system in accordance with

claim 53

wherein said transceiver comprises a satellite transceiver and a radio transceiver, said satellite transceiver configured to exchange communications with said at least one second satellite, said radio transceiver configured to exchange communications between said hub on-board tracking system and another of said tracking systems.

55. A system in accordance with

claim 54

wherein each said tracking system further configured to transmit a data message comprising said set of LLC and said set of discretes to said hub on-board tracking system, said hub on-board tracking system further configured to compile a comprehensive data message comprising the data messages from each said tracking system, said hub on-board tracking system further configured to transmit said comprehensive data message to said data center using said at least one second satellite.

56. A system in accordance with

claim 42

wherein said data center further comprises a web server configured to enable a user to access said data center using the Internet, said web server further configured to enable a user to view a graphical representation of order and orientation of vehicles in said consist.