System and method for vehicle control
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a first controller configured to obtain an operational setting for a vehicle as a function of at least one of time or distance of the vehicle along at least part of a route, wherein the first controller is configured to determine the operational setting based on information of the vehicle and information of at least part of the route, and wherein the first controller is also configured to output a first signal relating to the operational setting for controlling the vehicle to travel along the route; and
a sensor configured to obtain operational data of the vehicle as the vehicle travels along the route, the sensor configured to provide the operational data to the first controller;
wherein the first controller is configured to obtain a difference between the operational data of the vehicle at one or more of a location or a time along the route and the operational setting for the vehicle and associated with the one or more of a location or a time along the route, and to adjust the first signal based on the difference that is obtained;
a friction modification unit configured to modify a friction characteristic of a surface of the route as the vehicle travels on the route, wherein the friction modification unit is included in a set of plural friction modification units onboard the vehicle, the friction modification units disposed at a corresponding plurality of locations along the vehicle; and
a friction management controller configured to direct the friction modification unit to modify the friction characteristic of the surface of the route based on the operational setting, wherein the friction management controller is configured to use information regarding the corresponding plurality of locations of the friction modification units to independently direct the plurality of friction modification units.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system includes a first controller, a data acquisition device, a friction modification unit, and a friction management controller. The first controller is configured to obtain an operational setting for a vehicle, and to output a first signal relating to the operational setting for controlling the vehicle. The data acquisition device is configured to obtain operational data of the vehicle as the vehicle travels, and to provide the operational data to the first controller. The first controller is configured to obtain a difference between the operational data and the operational setting, and to adjust the first signal based on the difference. The friction modification unit is configured to modify a friction characteristic of a surface of the route. The friction management controller is configured to direct the friction modification unit to modify the friction characteristic of the surface of the route based on the operational setting.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a first controller configured to obtain an operational setting for a vehicle as a function of at least one of time or distance of the vehicle along at least part of a route, wherein the first controller is configured to determine the operational setting based on information of the vehicle and information of at least part of the route, and wherein the first controller is also configured to output a first signal relating to the operational setting for controlling the vehicle to travel along the route; and a sensor configured to obtain operational data of the vehicle as the vehicle travels along the route, the sensor configured to provide the operational data to the first controller; wherein the first controller is configured to obtain a difference between the operational data of the vehicle at one or more of a location or a time along the route and the operational setting for the vehicle and associated with the one or more of a location or a time along the route, and to adjust the first signal based on the difference that is obtained; a friction modification unit configured to modify a friction characteristic of a surface of the route as the vehicle travels on the route, wherein the friction modification unit is included in a set of plural friction modification units onboard the vehicle, the friction modification units disposed at a corresponding plurality of locations along the vehicle; and a friction management controller configured to direct the friction modification unit to modify the friction characteristic of the surface of the route based on the operational setting, wherein the friction management controller is configured to use information regarding the corresponding plurality of locations of the friction modification units to independently direct the plurality of friction modification units. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method comprising:
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obtaining data related to an operational condition of a vehicle; accessing scheduling information regarding additional vehicles of a transportation network including the vehicle; obtaining information related to at least part of a route; obtaining one or more speed, power, or throttle settings based on the operational condition of the vehicle and the information related to at least part of the route; at least partially adjusting at least one of the one or more speed, power, or throttle settings based at least in part on the operational condition of the vehicle; autonomously determining a friction modification activity based on the one or more speed, power, or throttle settings, the friction modification activity configured to modify a surface of the route over which the vehicle is traveling; and controlling a friction modification unit disposed on the vehicle to perform the friction modification activity, wherein controlling the friction modification unit comprises controlling the friction modification unit using the scheduling information. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A system comprising:
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a first controller configured to obtain an operational setting for a vehicle as a function of at least one of time or distance of the vehicle along at least part of a route, wherein the first controller is configured to determine the operational setting based on information of the vehicle and information of at least part of the route, and wherein the first controller is also configured to output a first signal relating to the operational setting for controlling the vehicle to travel along the route; and a sensor configured to obtain operational data of the vehicle as the vehicle travels along the route, the sensor configured to provide the operational data to the first controller; wherein the first controller is configured to obtain a difference between the operational data of the vehicle at one or more of a location or a time along the route and the operational setting for the vehicle and associated with the one or more of a location or a time along the route, and to adjust the first signal based on the difference that is obtained; a friction modification unit configured to modify a friction characteristic of a surface of the route as the vehicle travels on the route; and a friction management controller configured to direct the friction modification unit to modify the friction characteristic of the surface of the route based on the operational setting, wherein the friction management controller is configured to determine an availability of a friction modification resource of the friction modification unit to perform a friction modifying activity; wherein the system is configured to modify a trip plan based on at least one of the availability of the friction modification resource or a cost of the friction modification resource.
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24. A system comprising:
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a first controller configured to obtain an operational setting for a vehicle as a function of at least one of time or distance of the vehicle along at least part of a route, wherein the first controller is configured to determine the operational setting based on information of the vehicle and information of at least part of the route, and wherein the first controller is also configured to output a first signal relating to the operational setting for controlling the vehicle to travel along the route; and a sensor configured to obtain operational data of the vehicle as the vehicle travels along the route, the sensor configured to provide the operational data to the first controller; wherein the first controller is configured to obtain a difference between the operational data of the vehicle at one or more of a location or a time along the route and the operational setting for the vehicle and associated with the one or more of a location or a time along the route, and to adjust the first signal based on the difference that is obtained; a friction modification unit configured to modify a friction characteristic of a surface of the route as the vehicle travels on the route; and a friction management controller configured to direct the friction modification unit to modify the friction characteristic of the surface of the route based on the operational setting, wherein the friction management controller is further configured to access scheduling information regarding travel of one or more additional vehicles in the transportation network and to use the scheduling information to direct the friction modification unit.
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25. A system comprising:
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a first controller configured to obtain an operational setting for a vehicle as a function of at least one of time or distance of the vehicle along at least part of a route, wherein the first controller is configured to determine the operational setting based on information of the vehicle and information of at least part of the route, and wherein the first controller is also configured to output a first signal relating to the operational setting for controlling the vehicle to travel along the route; and a sensor configured to obtain operational data of the vehicle as the vehicle travels along the route, the sensor configured to provide the operational data to the first controller; wherein the first controller is configured to obtain a difference between the operational data of the vehicle at one or more of a location or a time along the route and the operational setting for the vehicle and associated with the one or more of a location or a time along the route, and to adjust the first signal based on the difference that is obtained; a friction modification unit configured to modify a friction characteristic of a surface of the route as the vehicle travels on the route; and a friction management controller configured to direct the friction modification unit to modify the friction characteristic of the surface of the route based on the operational setting, wherein the vehicle comprises a vehicle consist including a lead powered unit and a trail powered unit, and wherein the friction management controller is configured to use information regarding a location of the trail powered unit to direct the friction modification unit.
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26. A method comprising:
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obtaining data related to an operational condition of a vehicle; obtaining information related to at least part of a route; obtaining one or more speed, power, or throttle settings based on the operational condition of the vehicle and the information related to at least part of the route; at least partially adjusting at least one of the one or more speed, power, or throttle settings based at least in part on the operational condition of the vehicle; determining an availability of a friction modification resource of a friction modification unit to perform a friction modifying activity autonomously determining a friction modification activity based on the one or more speed, power, or throttle settings, the friction modification activity configured to modify a surface of the route over which the vehicle is traveling; controlling the friction modification unit disposed on the vehicle to perform the friction modification activity; and modifying a trip plan based upon at least one of the availability of the friction modification resource or a cost of the friction modification resource.
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27. A method comprising:
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obtaining data related to an operational condition of a vehicle; obtaining information related to at least part of a route; obtaining one or more speed, power, or throttle settings based on the operational condition of the vehicle and the information related to at least part of the route; at least partially adjusting at least one of the one or more speed, power, or throttle settings based at least in part on the operational condition of the vehicle; autonomously determining a friction modification activity based on the one or more speed, power, or throttle settings, the friction modification activity configured to modify a surface of the route over which the vehicle is traveling; and controlling a plurality of friction modification units disposed at a plurality of corresponding locations on the vehicle to perform the friction modification activity, wherein the plurality of friction modification are independently controlled using information regarding the corresponding plurality of locations.
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Specification