System and method for vehicle control

• US 9,950,722 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2015
• Issued: 04/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Kumar, Ajith Kuttannair, Eldredge, David, Ballesty, Daniel, Cooper, Jared Klineman, Roney, Christopher, Houpt, Paul, Mathe, Stephen, Julich, Paul, Kisak, Jeffrey, Shaffer, Glenn, Nelson, Scott, Daum, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Goldman, Richard A
• Application Number:
  US14/863,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20160009304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 701 19, 701 20, 701 36
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2205/04 Satellite based navigation systems, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/16 Trackside optimisation of vehicle or train operation
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/40 Handling position reports or trackside vehicle data

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.

Claims

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.

2. The system of claim 1, 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.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the friction management controller is configured to select an alternate friction modification unit to perform the friction modifying activity responsive to the friction modification resource not being sufficient to perform the friction modifying activity.

4. The system of claim 2, 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.

5. The system of claim 1, 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.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises a rail vehicle consist that includes a lead powered unit and a plurality of remote powered units, and wherein the friction modification unit is included in a set of plural friction modification units distributed among the lead powered unit and the remote powered units.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the friction management controller is configured to prevent a specified friction modification activity of the friction modification unit based on information regarding a location along the route.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the friction modification unit includes a flange lubrication unit configured to dispense lubricant to a flange of a track, and wherein the friction management controller is configured to direct the friction modification unit to dispense the lubricant to the flange of the track via the flange lubrication unit proximate to a curve in the track.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the friction management controller is further configured to use diagnostic information to direct the friction modification unit.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising an acoustic sensor configured to provide the diagnostic information for identifying locations that require lubrication.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the diagnostic information includes information regarding locations along the route requiring friction modification, and wherein the system is configured to provide information regarding the one or more of the locations along the route to a database.

12. The system of claim 1, 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.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the friction management controller is configured to identify priority locations along the route, the priority locations corresponding to portions of the route at which friction modification will be of greater benefit than at other locations along the route, and to control the friction modification unit based at least in part on the priority locations that are identified.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the friction modification unit comprises a friction increasing unit and a friction decreasing unit, the friction increasing unit comprising at least one of a sand dispensing unit or an air pressure cleaning unit, the friction decreasing unit including a lubrication dispensing unit.

15. A method comprising:

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.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining an availability of a friction modification resource of the friction modification unit to perform a friction modifying activity.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising selecting an alternate friction modification unit to perform the friction modifying activity responsive to the friction modification resource not being sufficient to perform the friction modifying activity.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising 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.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the friction modification unit is one of a plurality of friction modification units on the vehicle, and wherein the method further comprises independently controlling the plurality of friction modification units disposed at a corresponding plurality of locations along the vehicle using information regarding the corresponding plurality of locations.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising preventing a specified friction modification activity at a location along the route based on information regarding characteristics of the route.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

obtaining diagnostic information regarding operation of the vehicle during traversal of the vehicle over the route; and

using the diagnostic information to control the friction modification unit.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

identifying priority locations along the route, the priority locations corresponding to portions of the route at which the friction modification activity will be of greater benefit than at other locations along the route; and

controlling the friction modification unit to perform the friction modification activity at the priority locations and preventing the friction modification unit from performing the friction modification activity at the other locations.

23. 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; 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.

24. 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; 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.

25. 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; 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.

26. A method comprising:

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.

27. A method comprising:

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.