System, method and computer software code for determining a mission plan for a powered system using signal aspect information

• US 9,828,010 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2008
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• 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: Otsubo, Tom, Daum, Wolfgang, Stull, Craig Alan, Hann, Gregory, Danner, Phillip
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): PECHE, JORGE O
• Application Number:
  US12/270,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20090076667A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,302 Days
• Field of Search: 701 19, 701 20, 701 29, 701 33, 701 52, 701 54, 701123
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0058 On-board optimisation of vehicle or vehicle train operation

Abstract

A mission planner system for a powered system, the mission planner system including a receiving device to collect aspect information as the powered system performs a mission, said aspect information being received from a remote location, a processor to determine a speed limit based at least in part on the aspect information, and a control system connected to the powered system to operate the powered system in response to the speed limit. A method and a computer software code for determining the mission plan with aspect information obtained from a remote location during the mission are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a receiving device configured to collect signal aspect information for a powered system that performs a mission, wherein the signal aspect information denotes a traffic condition of at least one segment on which the powered system is configured to pass, the signal aspect information being received from a remote location;

one or more processors configured to determine a speed limit of the powered system based at least in part on the signal aspect information; and

a control system connected to the powered system configured to operate the powered system in response to the speed limit, wherein the control system is configured to increase a speed of the powered system if the speed limit determined is greater than a current speed of the powered system, wherein the control system is configured to generate a mission plan for controlling the mission of the powered system, the mission plan specifying motoring power settings for plural segments over which the powered system is configured to pass in addition to the at least one segment on which the powered system is configured to pass; and

the mission plan is re-planned when the speed limit is determined, based at least in part on the signal aspect information received by the receiving device, wherein re-planning the mission plan comprises re-planning at least one of the motoring power settings.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the powered system is configured to be operated by the control system in accordance with the speed limit, and where emissions output or fuel consumption of the powered system is reduced while at least one mission requirement other than the speed limit is met.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising one or more computer readable instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to quantify the signal aspect information and provide the speed limit associated with the signal aspect information.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the powered system comprises a railway system, a marine vessel, an off-highway vehicle, a transportation vehicle, or an agricultural vehicle.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control system operates in a closed loop process.

6. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a manual controller configured to allow for optional manual control of the powered system.

7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a notification system configured to notify an operator when a speed of the powered system is changed in response to the speed limit.

8. A system comprising:

a receiving device configured to collect signal aspect information for a powered system that performs a mission, wherein the signal aspect information denotes a traffic condition of at least one segment on which the powered system is configured to pass, the signal aspect information being received from a remote location;

one or more processors configured to determine a speed limit of the powered system based at least in part on the signal aspect information;

a control system connected to the powered system configured to operate the powered system in response to the speed limit, wherein the control system is configured to increase a speed of the powered system if the speed limit determined is greater than a current speed of the powered system; and

a data storage device connected to at least one of the processor or the control system and configured to at least one of store a database used to determine the speed limit or store the signal aspect information.