Vehicle control system
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a locator device disposed onboard a trailing vehicle system that is configured to travel along a route behind a leading vehicle system that travels along the route in a same direction of travel as the trailing vehicle system, the locator device configured to determine a location of the trailing vehicle system along the route;
a communication circuit disposed onboard the trailing vehicle system, the communication circuit configured to periodically receive a status message that includes a location of the leading vehicle system; and
one or more processors onboard the vehicle system and operably connected to the locator device and the communication circuit, the one or more processors configured to verify that a power-to-weight ratio of the leading vehicle system is less than a power-to-weight ratio of the trailing vehicle system, the power-to-weight ratios of the leading vehicle system and the trailing vehicle system being based on respective upper power output limits of the leading and trailing vehicle systems, the one or more processors further configured to monitor a trailing distance between the trailing vehicle system and the leading vehicle system based on the respective locations of the leading and trailing vehicle systems, and, responsive to the trailing distance being less than a first proximity distance relative to the leading vehicle system, the one or more processors are configured to set an upper permitted power output limit for the trailing vehicle system that is less than the upper power output limit of the trailing vehicle system to reduce an effective power-to-weight ratio of the trailing vehicle system.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system includes a locator device, a communication circuit, and one or more processors, all disposed onboard a trailing vehicle system that travels along a route behind a leading vehicle system. The locator device determines a location of the trailing vehicle system. The communication circuit periodically receives a location of the leading vehicle system in a message. The processors monitor a trailing distance between the trailing vehicle system and the leading vehicle system based on the respective locations of the leading and trailing vehicle systems. Responsive to the trailing distance being less than a first proximity distance relative to the leading vehicle system, the processors set an upper permitted power output limit for the trailing vehicle system that is less than an upper power output limit of the trailing vehicle system to reduce an effective power-to-weight ratio of the trailing vehicle system.
10 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a locator device disposed onboard a trailing vehicle system that is configured to travel along a route behind a leading vehicle system that travels along the route in a same direction of travel as the trailing vehicle system, the locator device configured to determine a location of the trailing vehicle system along the route; a communication circuit disposed onboard the trailing vehicle system, the communication circuit configured to periodically receive a status message that includes a location of the leading vehicle system; and one or more processors onboard the vehicle system and operably connected to the locator device and the communication circuit, the one or more processors configured to verify that a power-to-weight ratio of the leading vehicle system is less than a power-to-weight ratio of the trailing vehicle system, the power-to-weight ratios of the leading vehicle system and the trailing vehicle system being based on respective upper power output limits of the leading and trailing vehicle systems, the one or more processors further configured to monitor a trailing distance between the trailing vehicle system and the leading vehicle system based on the respective locations of the leading and trailing vehicle systems, and, responsive to the trailing distance being less than a first proximity distance relative to the leading vehicle system, the one or more processors are configured to set an upper permitted power output limit for the trailing vehicle system that is less than the upper power output limit of the trailing vehicle system to reduce an effective power-to-weight ratio of the trailing vehicle system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method comprising:
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determining a power-to-weight ratio of a leading vehicle system that is on a route and disposed ahead of a trailing vehicle system on the route in a direction of travel of the trailing vehicle system; verifying that the power-to-weight ratio of the leading vehicle system is less than a power-to-weight ratio of the trailing vehicle system, the power-to-weight ratios of the leading vehicle system and the trailing vehicle system being based on respective upper power output limits of the leading and trailing vehicle systems; monitoring a trailing distance between the trailing vehicle system and the leading vehicle system along the route; and responsive to the trailing distance being less than a first proximity distance relative to the leading vehicle system, setting an upper permitted power output limit for the trailing vehicle system that is less than the upper power output limit of the trailing vehicle system, an effective power-to-weight ratio of the trailing vehicle system based on the upper permitted power output limit being no greater than the power-to-weight ratio of the leading vehicle system. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification