System and method for determining grade errors of a route
First Claim
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1. A system comprising:
- one or more processors configured to determine vehicle-controlled power settings of a vehicle as the vehicle moves along a route according to a trip plan, the trip plan dictating designated speeds and designated power settings of the vehicle at different locations along the route, the trip plan based on designated grades of the route, the vehicle-controlled power settings are controlled to cause the vehicle to move toward the designated speeds of the trip plan, the one or more processors also configured to identify differences between the designated power settings of the trip plan and the vehicle-controlled power settings at which the vehicle is controlled to cause the vehicle to move toward the designated speeds of the trip plan,wherein the one or more processors also are configured to determine discrepancies in the designated grades of the route based on the differences between the designated power settings of the trip plan and the vehicle-controlled power settings;
wherein the one or more processors also are configured to automatically change the vehicle-controlled power settings without operator intervention to cause the vehicle to move toward the designated speeds of the trip plan based on the identified differences between the designated power settings of the trip plan and the vehicle-controlled power settings; and
wherein the one or more processors also are configured to determine a route health index based on the one or more differences between the designated grades of the route and the actual grades of the route, the route health index representative of an extent of damage to the route.
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Abstract
In one embodiment of the subject matter described herein, a system is provided that includes a vehicle that is operating in accordance with the operational settings of a trip plan. The operational settings dictate how the vehicle system is to travel at different locations along the route. A processor of the system may identify differences between the operational settings of the trip plan and the operational settings at which the vehicle actually travels. The processor may further identify whether the differences are caused by a grade error.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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one or more processors configured to determine vehicle-controlled power settings of a vehicle as the vehicle moves along a route according to a trip plan, the trip plan dictating designated speeds and designated power settings of the vehicle at different locations along the route, the trip plan based on designated grades of the route, the vehicle-controlled power settings are controlled to cause the vehicle to move toward the designated speeds of the trip plan, the one or more processors also configured to identify differences between the designated power settings of the trip plan and the vehicle-controlled power settings at which the vehicle is controlled to cause the vehicle to move toward the designated speeds of the trip plan, wherein the one or more processors also are configured to determine discrepancies in the designated grades of the route based on the differences between the designated power settings of the trip plan and the vehicle-controlled power settings; wherein the one or more processors also are configured to automatically change the vehicle-controlled power settings without operator intervention to cause the vehicle to move toward the designated speeds of the trip plan based on the identified differences between the designated power settings of the trip plan and the vehicle-controlled power settings; and wherein the one or more processors also are configured to determine a route health index based on the one or more differences between the designated grades of the route and the actual grades of the route, the route health index representative of an extent of damage to the route. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method comprising:
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determining vehicle-controlled power settings of a vehicle as the vehicle moves along a route according to a trip plan, the trip plan dictating designated speeds and designated power settings of the vehicle at different locations along the route, the trip plan based on designated grades of the route, the vehicle-controlled power settings are controlled to cause the vehicle to move toward the designated speeds of the trip plan; identifying differences between the designated power settings of the trip plan and the vehicle-controlled power settings at which the vehicle is controlled to cause the vehicle to move toward the designated speeds of the trip plan; determining discrepancies in the designated grades of the route based on the differences between the designated power settings of the trip plan and the vehicle-controlled power settings; automatically changing the vehicle-controlled power settings without operator intervention to cause the vehicle to move toward the designated speeds of the trip plan based on the identified differences between the designated power settings of the trip plan and the vehicle-controlled power settings; and determining a route health index based on the one or more differences between the designated grades of the route and the actual grades of the route, the route health index representative of an extent of damage to the route. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system comprising:
a vehicle controller configured to determine vehicle-controlled power settings of a vehicle as the vehicle moves along a route according to a trip plan, the trip plan dictating designated speeds and designated power settings of the vehicle at different locations along the route, the trip plan based on designated grades of the route, the vehicle-controlled power settings are controlled to cause the vehicle to move toward the designated speeds of the trip plan, wherein the vehicle controller also is configured to identify differences between the designated power settings of the trip plan and the vehicle-controlled power settings at which the vehicle is controlled to cause the vehicle to move toward the designated speeds of the trip plan, the vehicle controller also configured to determine a route health index based on discrepancies in the designated grades of the route based on the differences between the designated power settings of the trip plan and the vehicle-controlled power settings, the route health index representative of an extent of damage to the route, wherein the vehicle controller also is configured to automatically change movement of the vehicle without operator intervention based on the route health index. - View Dependent Claims (20)
Specification