SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER SOFTWARE CODE FOR CONTROLLING A POWERED SYSTEM AND OPERATIONAL INFORMATION USED IN A MISSION BY THE POWERED SYSTEM

• US 20080195269A1
• Filed: 04/02/2008
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Kumar, Ajith Kuttannair, Shaffer, Glenn Robert, Lacy, Patricia Sue, Young, Jennifer B.
• Granted Patent: US 9,527,518 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/24
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0058 On-board optimisation of vehicle or vehicle train operation

Abstract

A method for communicating operational information for a mission plan to an operator of a powered system, the method including collecting information specific to a mission plan, verifying information specific to the mission, and/or accepting information specific to the mission. The powered system is allowed to be autonomously controlled. A system and a computer software code are also disclosed for communicating operational information for a mission plan to an operator of a powered system.

Claims

1. A method for communicating operational information for a mission plan to an operator of a powered system, the method comprising:

at least one of collecting information specific to a mission plan, verifying the information specific to the mission plan, and accepting information specific to the mission plan; and

allowing the powered system to be autonomously controlled.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprises autonomously implementing a mission with at least of the information collected, the information verified, and the information accepted.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein collecting information further comprises collecting information from at least one of a remote dispatch location and at least one powered system.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprises providing feedback to at least one of a user and a remote monitoring facility during at least one of collecting information, verifying the information, and accepting the information.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein feedback is provided through at least one of a visual representation, an audible representation, and a physical contact representation.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprises providing an operator input device to allow access to the information.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprises configuring access to the information on the operator input device in accordance with at least one of a location of the powered vehicle, a condition of the powered system, external environment proximate the powered vehicle, and information provided by at least one of a remote monitoring location and an operator.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprises modifying the information prior to accepting the information collected.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprises communicating at least one of collecting information, verifying information and accepting information through at least one of a wired and a wireless communication network.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprises displaying information to the operator.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein information comprises at least one of forces acting on the powered system, operating information of the powered system, operator training data, mission completion time, fuel data, emission data, operating constraints of the powered system, terrain information, future mission parameters, and prior mission parameters.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the powered system comprises a railway transportation system having a power generating unit.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the powered system comprises a marine vessel having a power generating unit.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the powered system comprises an off-highway vehicle having a power generating unit.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the powered system comprises a stationary power generating station having a power generating unit.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the powered system comprises a network of stationary power generating stations having a power generating unit.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the powered system comprises at least one of a transportation vehicle and an agricultural vehicle having a power generating unit.

18. A system for communicating operational information for a mission plan to an operator of a powered system, the system comprising:

a dynamic display configured to provide a plurality of information to a user at least one of prior to beginning a mission, during the mission and after the mission is completed; and

at least one active input device configured for at least one of designating information to be displayed and initiating commands to the powered system.

19. The system according to claim 18, further comprises a communication network configured to at least one of receive information and transmit information specific to the mission.

20. The system according to claim 18, wherein the dynamic display further comprises a rolling map display to display at least one of terrain information and speed information.

21. The system according to claim 18, wherein the dynamic display further comprises a display illustrating at least event.

22. The system according to claim 18, wherein the dynamic display further comprises a display illustrating forces at least one of created by the powered system and acting upon the powered system.

23. The system according to claim 18, wherein the dynamic display further comprises a display illustrating control instructions for an operator to follow in operating the powered vehicle.

24. The system according to claim 23, further comprises a recording device to collect information about how the operator operates the powered vehicle.

25. The system according to claim 18, wherein the dynamic display further comprises a display illustrating when an operator should take manual control of the powered vehicle when the powered vehicle is operating autonomously.

26. A computer software code operable within a processor and configured to reside on a computer readable media for communicating operational information for a mission plan to an operator of a powered system, the computer software code comprising:

computer software module for at least one of collecting information to initialize a mission plan, verifying the information collected, and accepting the information collected; and

computer software module for allowing the powered system to be autonomously controlled.

27. The computer software code according to claim 26, further comprises a computer software module for performing a mission that is autonomously implemented using the information collected.

28. The computer software code according to claim 26, further comprises a computer software module for providing feedback to a user during at least one of collecting information, verifying the information, and accepting the information.

29. The computer software code according to claim 26, further comprises a computer software module for providing an operator an ability to access to the information.

30. The computer software code according to claim 29, further comprises a computer software module for configuring access to the information by the operator in accordance with at least one of a location of the powered vehicle, a condition of the powered system, external environment proximate the powered vehicle, and information provided by at least one of a remote monitoring location and the operator.

31. The computer software code according to claim 26, further comprises a computer software module for modifying the information prior to accepting the information collected.

32. The computer software code according to claim 26, further comprises a computer software module for communicating at least one of collecting information, verifying information and accepting information is performed through at least one of a wired and a wireless communication network.

33. A method for engaging automatic control of a powered system, the method comprising:

determining at least one operating condition of the powered system; and

if the at least one operating condition is within an acceptable range, initiating automatic control of the powered system.

34. The method according to claim 33, further comprises monitoring operations of the powered system to determine whether automatic control has occurred.

35. The method according to claim 33, wherein the at least one operating condition comprises at least one of a current operating condition and parameter change of the powered system, an environmental condition, and at least one of condition and a parameter change provided by at least one of an operator and a remote monitoring facility.

36. A method for autonomously disengaging automatic control of a powered system, the method comprising:

monitoring at least one operating condition while automatic control of the powered system is engaged to determine whether the at least one operating condition is within an acceptable range; and

disengaging automatic control if the at least one operating condition is outside of the acceptable range.

37. The method according to claim 36, further comprises automatically warning that manual control of the powered system is required.

38. The method according to claim 36, further comprises providing a time delay between warning that manual control is required and disengaging automatic control.

39. The method according to claim 36, wherein the at least one operating condition comprises at least one of a current operating condition and parameter change of the powered system, an environmental condition, and at least one of condition and a parameter change provided by at least one of an operator and a remote monitoring facility.

40. A method for disengaging automatic control of a powered system, the method comprising disengaging automatic control of the powered system when commanded by at least one of an operator and a remote monitoring facility.

41. The method according to claim 40, further comprises providing an input device for the operator to command disengaging automatic control of the powered system.