System, Method, and Computer Software Code for Instructing an Operator to Control a Powered System Having an Autonomous Controller

• US 20090186325A1
• Filed: 05/28/2008
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Kumar, Ajith Kuttannair
• Granted Patent: US 8,398,405 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/219
• CPC Class Codes: B61C 17/12 Control gear; Arrangements for controlling locomotives from remote points in the train or when operating in multiple units control from points outside the train B61L3/00; fluid-actuated telemotors, servomotors F15B; control devices in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/60 Testing or simulation
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/16 Control of vehicles or other craft simulators G09B9/02
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/04 for teaching control of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/06 for teaching control of ships, boats, or other waterborne vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 30/00 Transportation of goods or passengers via railways, e.g. energy recovery or reducing air resistance

Abstract

A method for training an operator to control a powered system is disclosed including operating the powered system with an autonomous controller, and informing an operator of a change in operation of the powered system as the change in operation occurs. A system and a computer software code are also disclosed for training the operator to control the powered system.

Claims

1. A method for training an operator to control a powered system, the method comprises:

operating the powered system with an autonomous controller; and

informing an operator of a change in operation of the powered system as the change in operation occurs.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein informing the operator of the change in operation occurs simultaneously with when the change in operation takes place.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing a reason to the operator for the change in operation.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein providing the reason to the operator for the change in operation occurs simultaneously with when the change in operation takes place.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein informing may be performed by at least one of visually and audibly.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the powered system comprises at least one of a railway transportation system, a marine vessel, an off-highway vehicle, a transportation vehicle, an agricultural vehicle, and a stationary power generating station.

7. A method for training an operator to control a powered system, the method comprises:

operating the powered system with an autonomous controller; and

disengaging the autonomous controller so that an operator may control the powered system.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

determining how the autonomous controller would have handled the powered system during a mission segment while the autonomous controller was disengaged and the operator is in control of the powered system; and

comparing how the operator controls the powered system during the mission segment while the autonomous controller is disengaged with how the autonomous controller was determined to have handled the mission segment.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising grading a performance of the operator when compared to how the autonomous controller would have handled the powered system during the mission segment.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein disengaging the autonomous controller occurs during a region of a mission that requires additional attention by the operator.

11. The method according to claim 7 further comprises communicating to the operator at least one of a consequence of an action taken by the operator while in control of the powered system and a force associated with the powered system while the operator is in control of the powered system.

12. A method for training an operator to control a powered system, the method comprising:

operating the powered system with an autonomous controller; and

providing an input device for an operator to simulate operating the powered system as the autonomous controller operates the powered system.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

determining at least one input from the input device made by the operator to simulate operating the powered system as the autonomous controller operates the powered system; and

comparing the at least one input to at least one action made by the autonomous controller as it operates the powered system.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising rating the operator with information obtained when comparing.

15. A method for training an operator to control a powered system, the method comprising:

providing a powered system in a temporary stationary condition with a manual control device disengaged from controlling the powered system;

communicating a mission to an operator; and

simulating operation of the powered system responsive to the mission with the manual control device.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising recording the simulated operation.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising comparing the simulated operation to a mission performed by an autonomous controller.

18. The method according to claim 15, further comprising providing an input device to allow the operator to modify information about the powered system controlled for use when simulating operation.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein providing the powered system in a temporary stationary condition comprises temporarily halting the powered system at least one of immediately prior to starting a mission, during a mission, and immediately after a mission.

20. A training system for instructing an operator to control a powered system, the training system comprising:

a controller configured to autonomously control a powered system; and

an information providing device configured to provide information to an operator responsive to the controller operating the powered system.

21. The training system according to claim 20, wherein the information provided to the operator by the information providing device comprises at least one of information of an operating change as the operating change occurs and information of a reason for the operating change as the operating change occurs.

22. The training system according to claim 20, further comprising a device to disengage the controller and allow for the operator to control the powered system.

23. The training system according to claim 22, further comprising a determination device to determine how the controller would have controlled the powered system while the operator controls the powered system.

24. The training system according to claim 23, further comprising a comparison device to compare how the operator controlled the powered system against how the determination device determined how the controller would have controlled the powered system.

25. The training system according to claim 20, further comprising a recording device configured to record at least one of a mission as performed by the autonomous controller and a mission as performed by the operator.

26. The training system according to claim 20, wherein the information providing device is a device that provides information at least one of audibly, visually, and through touch.

27. A computer software code operating within a processor and storable on a computer readable media for training an operator to control a powered system, the computer software code comprising:

computer software module for operating the powered system with an autonomous controller; and

computer software module for informing an operator of a change in operation of the powered system as the change in operation occurs.

28. A method for training an operator to control operation of a train having at least one locomotive, the method comprising:

operating the train having at least one locomotive with an autonomous controller during a mission;

providing at least one of a throttle control and a brake control for an operator to simulate operating the train as the autonomous controller actually operates the train;

determining at least one input from the at least one of throttle control and brake control made by the operator to simulate operating the train as the autonomous controller actually operates the train; and

comparing the at least one input to at least one action made by the autonomous controller as the autonomous controller actually operates the powered system.

29. The method according to claim 28, further comprising rating the operator with information obtained when comparing.