System and method for automated locomotive startup and shutdown recommendations
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- processing, by a processor, train consist data and route data for a train consist by applying a plurality of rules using the train consist data and the route data, wherein the train consist comprises a locomotive consist, the locomotive consist comprising a lead locomotive and a rearmost locomotive,wherein the rules comprise a territory rule that is configured to prevent a shut down recommendation of the rearmost locomotive in a predefined territory as determined from the route data,wherein the processing step further includes applying the territory rule by;
determining territory data for a route segment based on the route data;
determining whether the territory data corresponds to the predefined territory, the predefined territory being indicative of a particular territory where safety braking considerations apply; and
in response to a positive determination that the territory data corresponds to the predefined territory, preventing the rearmost locomotive from being recommended for a shut down; and
in response to the processing, automatically generating, by the processor, a recommendation that is indicative of how many and which locomotives of the train consist should be powered on or shut down for the route segment.
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Abstract
Data representative of a train consist (the train consist comprising a plurality of locomotives and a plurality of cars) and data representative of a route for the train consist can be processed by a processor to automatically determine which locomotives in the train consist should be powered on and which locomotives in the train consist should be shut down for each segment of the route. The processor can make these determinations based on an analysis of the train consist data and the route data with respect to a plurality of considerations that affect train efficiency. Recommendations for locomotive startups and shutdowns in accordance with such automated determinations can then be presented to the train crew for the crew to use during train operations. It is believed that when train crews are in compliance with such recommendations, significant improvements in efficiency, particularly with respect to fuel consumption, can be achieved.
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Citations
53 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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processing, by a processor, train consist data and route data for a train consist by applying a plurality of rules using the train consist data and the route data, wherein the train consist comprises a locomotive consist, the locomotive consist comprising a lead locomotive and a rearmost locomotive, wherein the rules comprise a territory rule that is configured to prevent a shut down recommendation of the rearmost locomotive in a predefined territory as determined from the route data, wherein the processing step further includes applying the territory rule by; determining territory data for a route segment based on the route data; determining whether the territory data corresponds to the predefined territory, the predefined territory being indicative of a particular territory where safety braking considerations apply; and in response to a positive determination that the territory data corresponds to the predefined territory, preventing the rearmost locomotive from being recommended for a shut down; and in response to the processing, automatically generating, by the processor, a recommendation that is indicative of how many and which locomotives of the train consist should be powered on or shut down for the route segment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus comprising:
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a memory for storing train consist data and route data for a train consist, the train consist comprising a locomotive consist and a plurality of cars, the locomotive consist comprising a lead locomotive and a rearmost locomotive; and a processor configured to (1) apply the train consist data and the route data using a plurality of rules, wherein the rules comprise a territory rule that is configured to prevent a shut down recommendation of the rearmost locomotive in a predefined territory as determined from the route data, wherein the processor is further configured to, as part of applying the territory rule, (i) determine territory data for a route segment based on the route data, (ii) determine whether the territory data corresponds to the predefined territory, the predefined territory being indicative of a particular territory where safety braking considerations apply, and (iii) in response to a positive determination that the territory data corresponds to the predefined territory, prevent the rearmost locomotive from being recommended for a shut down, and (2) in response to applying the train consist data and the route data using the rules, automatically generate recommendation data that is indicative of how many and which locomotives of the train consist should be powered on or shut down for a route segment. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising:
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a plurality of instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and executable by a processor of a computer, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, are configured to cause the computer to; process train consist data and route data for a train consist, the train consist comprising a locomotive consist and a plurality of cars, the locomotive consist comprising a lead locomotive and a rearmost locomotive; apply the train consist data and the route data using a plurality of rules, wherein the rules comprise a territory rule that is configured to prevent a shut down recommendation of the rearmost locomotive in a predefined territory as determined from the route data, wherein execution of the territory rule further causes the computer to (a) determine territory data for a route segment based on the route data, (b) determine whether the territory data corresponds to the predefined territory, the predefined territory being indicative of a particular territory where safety braking considerations apply, and (c) in response to a positive determination that the territory data corresponds to the predefined territory, prevent the rearmost locomotive from being recommended for a shut down; and in response to applying the train consist data and the route data using the rules, automatically generate recommendation data that is indicative of how many and which locomotives of the train consist should be powered on or shut down for the route segment. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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Specification