Methods and apparatus for locomotive tracking

• US 20010044695A1
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• 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: Doner, John R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,490,523 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0027 Radio-based, e.g. using GSM-R
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0036 Conductor-based, e.g. using CAN-Bus, train-line or optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0072 On-board train data handling
• 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 25/026 Relative localisation, e.g. using odometer
• 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

In one aspect, the present invention relates to identifying locomotive consists within train consists, and determining the order of the locomotives within the identified locomotive consists. By identifying locomotive consists and the order of locomotives within such consists, a railroad can better manage it locomotive fleet. In one exemplary embodiment, an on-board tracking system for being mounted to each locomotive of a train includes locomotive interfaces for interfacing with other systems of the particular locomotive, and a computer coupled to receive inputs from the interface, and a GPS receiver and a satellite communicator (transceiver) coupled to the computer. Generally, the onboard tracking systems determine the absolute position of the locomotive on which it is mounted and additionally, obtain information regarding specific locomotive interfaces that relate to the operational state of the locomotive. Each equipped locomotive operating in the field determines its absolute position and obtains other information independently of other equipped locomotives. Position is represented as a geodetic position, i.e., latitude and longitude. 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 locomotive consist, at least some locomotives of the locomotive consist having an on-board tracking system comprising a locomotive interface, a computer coupled to said locomotive interface, a GPS receiver coupled to the computer;

and a communicator coupled to the computer;

the computer programmed to determine a position of the locomotive based on a signal received by the receiver and to transmit the position via the communicator, the computer further programmed to obtain locomotive discretes from the locomotive interface and to transmit the locomotive discretes via the communicator, said method comprising the steps of;

operating each on-board system to determine when its respective locomotive departs a locomotive assignment point;

operating the on-board system of each departing locomotive to determine a departure condition when any of the respective locomotives depart the locomotive assignment point;

operating the on-board system of each departing locomotive to send a locomotive position message to a data center at a time corresponding to the locomotive assignment point;

operating each on-board system to simultaneously collect GPS location data for each respective locomotive; and

at the data center,

collecting locomotive position messages corresponding to locomotive assignment point to determine localized groups of locomotives;

identifying candidate consists and lead locomotives;

associating trailing locomotives with a single lead locomotive based on geographic proximity;

determining an order of the locomotives in the locomotive consist having a respective on-board tracking system; and

determining the location of at least one locomotive in the locomotive consist that does not include a respective on-board tracking system.

2. A method in accordance with

claim 1

wherein identifying lead locomotives is based on a reverser handle discrete indicating whether a handle is in either a forward or reverse position.

3. A method in accordance with

claim 2

wherein identifying lead locomotives further comprises the step of determining whether a locomotive has an orientation of short-hood forward.

4. A method in accordance with

claim 1

wherein associating trailing locomotives with a single lead locomotive comprising the steps of determining a centroid of a line between each reporting locomotive of a candidate consist and each lead locomotive, and associating those trailing locomotives with centroids that fall within a specified distance of a lead locomotive as a consist member.

5. A method in accordance with

claim 1

wherein determining an order of locomotives in the locomotive consist comprises the step of determining whether a locomotive is oriented in at least one of short-hood forward and long-hood forward.

6. A method in accordance with

claim 5

wherein determining whether a locomotive is oriented in at least one of short-hood forward and long-hood forward comprises the step of decoding locomotive discretes.

7. A method in accordance with

claim 1

wherein determining the location of at least one locomotive that does not include an on-board tracking system comprises the step determining the location of the locomotive using the equation,

8. A method in accordance with

claim 1

wherein determining the location of at least one locomotive that does not include an on-board tracking system comprises the step determining the location of the locomotive using the equation,

9. A method in accordance with

claim 1

wherein determining the location of at least one locomotive that does not include an on-board tracking system comprises the step determining the location of the locomotive using the equation,

10. A data center comprising a computer coupled to a receiver, said computer programmed to:

collect locomotive position messages corresponding to a locomotive assignment point to determine localized groups of locomotives, wherein at least some of the locomotives comprise an on-board tracking system;

receive GPS location data simultaneously collected by each on-board tracking system;

identify candidate consists and lead locomotives;

associate trailing locomotives with a single lead locomotive based on geographic proximity;

determine an order of the locomotives in the locomotive consist having a respective on-board tracking system; and

determine the location of at least one locomotive in the locomotive consist that does not include a respective on-board tracking system.

11. A data center in accordance with

claim 10

wherein identifying lead locomotives is based on a reverser handle discrete indicating whether a handle is in either a forward or reverse position.

12. A data center in accordance with

claim 11

wherein identifying lead locomotives further comprises determining whether a locomotive has an orientation of short-hood forward.

13. A data center in accordance with

claim 10

wherein associating trailing locomotives with a single lead locomotive comprises determining a centroid of a line between each reporting locomotive of a candidate consist and each lead locomotive, and associating those trailing locomotives with centroids that fall within a specified distance of a lead locomotive as a consist member.

14. A data center in accordance with

claim 10

wherein determining an order of locomotives in the locomotive consist comprises determining whether a locomotive is oriented in at least one of short-hood forward and long-hood forward.

15. A data center in accordance with

claim 14

wherein determining whether a locomotive is oriented in at least one of short-hood forward and long-hood forward comprises decoding locomotive discretes.

16. A data center in accordance with

claim 10

wherein to determine the location of at least one locomotive that does not include an on-board tracking system, said computer further programmed to use the equation,

17. A data center in accordance with

claim 10

wherein to determine the location of at least one locomotive that does not include an on-board tracking system, said computer further programmed to use the equation,

18. A data center in accordance with

claim 10

wherein to determine the location of at least one locomotive that does not include an on-board tracking system, said computer further programmed to use the equation,

19. A method for managing locomotives, at least some locomotives having an on-board tracking system comprising a locomotive interface, a computer coupled to said locomotive interface, a GPS receiver coupled to the computer, and a communicator coupled to the computer, the computer programmed to determine a position of the locomotive based on a signal received by the receiver and to transmit the position via the communicator, the computer further programmed to obtain locomotive discretes from the locomotive interface and to transmit the locomotive discretes via the communicator, said method comprising the steps of:

operating each on-board system to determine when its respective locomotive departs a locomotive assignment point;

operating the on-board system of each departing locomotive to determine a departure condition when any of the respective locomotives depart the locomotive assignment point;

operating the on-board system of each departing locomotive to send a locomotive position message to a data center at a time corresponding to the locomotive assignment point;

operating each on-board system to simultaneaously collect GPS location data for each respective locomotive; and

at the data center,

collecting locomotive position messages corresponding to the locomotive assignment point to determine localized groups of locomotives;

identifying candidate consists and lead locomotives.

20. A method in accordance with

claim 19

wherein identifying lead locomotives is based on a reverser handle discrete indicating whether a handle is in either a forward or reverse position.

21. A method in accordance with

claim 20

wherein identifying lead locomotives further comprises the step of determining whether a locomotive has an orientation of short-hood forward.

22. A method in accordance with

claim 19

further comprising the steps of:

associating trailing locomotives with a single lead locomotive based on geographic proximity;

determining an order of the locomotives in the locomotive consist having a respective on-board tracking system; and

determining the location of at least one locomotive in the locomotive consist that does not include a respective on-board tracking system.

23. A method in accordance with

claim 22

wherein associating trailing locomotives with a single lead locomotive comprising the steps of determining a centroid of a line between each reporting locomotive of a candidate consist and each lead locomotive, and associating those trailing locomotives with centroids that fall within a specified distance of a lead locomotive as a consist member.

24. A method in accordance with

claim 22

wherein determining an order of locomotives in the locomotive consist comprises the step of determining whether a locomotive is oriented in at least one of short-hood forward and long-hood forward.

25. A method in accordance with

claim 24

wherein determining whether a locomotive oriented in at least one of short-hood forward and long-hood forward comprises the step of decoding locomotive discretes.

26. A method in accordance with

claim 22

wherein determining the location of at least one locomotive in the locomotive consist that does not include a respective on-board tracking system comprises the step of utilizing the equation,

27. A method in accordance with

claim 22

wherein determining the location of at least one locomotive in the locomotive consist that does not include a respective on-board tracking system comprises the step of utilizing the equation,

28. A method in accordance with

claim 22

wherein determining the location of at least one locomotive in the locomotive consist that does not include a respective on-board tracking system comprises the step of utilizing the equation,