In one embodiment, a method includes capturing, by a machine vision device, an image of an object in a railway environment. The machine vision device is attached to a first train car that is moving in a first direction along a first railroad track of the railway environment. The method also includes analyzing, by the machine vision device, the image of the object using one or more machine vision algorithms to determine a value associated with the object. The method further includes determining, by the machine vision device, that the value associated with the object indicates a potential deficiency of the object and communicating, by the machine vision device, an alert to a component external to the first train car. The alert comprises an indication of the potential deficiency of the object.

A travel management device is configured to transmit a reservation request for a block section to be reserved based on track information indicating a plurality of block sections constituting a track on which a vehicle travels and a connection relationship between the block sections, the block section to be reserved being among the block sections included in the track on which the vehicle travels. A resource management device is configured to record the block section to be reserved indicated by the reservation request as a reserved block section of the vehicle which has transmitted the reservation request in case where the block section to be reserved indicated by the reservation request is not reserved by a vehicle other than the vehicle which has transmitted the reservation request at a time at which the reservation request is received.

A resonant sensor probe assembly includes a substrate formed from one or more dielectric materials and free-standing electrodes coupled with the substrate. The free-standing electrodes are configured to be placed into the fluid and to generate an electric field between the free-standing electrodes. A controller measures an impedance response of the sensor to the fluid between the electrodes to determine an aging effect of the sensor.

According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of devices, systems, and methods related to tracking location of operator control units for locomotives. In an exemplary embodiment, an operator control unit includes a user interface configured to receive one or more commands from an operator for controlling a locomotive. The operator control unit also includes receiver configured to receive location information of the operator control unit, and a wireless communication device. The wireless communication device is configured to transmit command data corresponding to the one or more commands and location data corresponding to the location information to a machine control unit on the locomotive.

A distribution device includes: a data acquisition unit acquiring operation data, which includes position information indicating train position when a measured value is acquired and information on the measured value, from a vehicle information management device collecting the measured value indicating operating state of equipment on a train; a history data management unit determining a representative value for each position information, generating and storing history data including the position information and information on the representative value, and distributing the history data to a data receiving device; and a connection management unit reading, based on the position information included in the operation data, the representative value corresponding to the position information from the history data, calculating a difference value between the measured value included in the operation data and the representative value, and distributing difference data including the position information and information on the difference value to the data receiving device.

A control device is for at least two traction engines of a railway vehicle. The control device includes an estimation module configured to estimate a traction power requirement of the rail vehicle as a function of at least one position signal of the rail vehicle, a determination module configured to determine a required operating state of each engine based on the power requirement, an adaptation module configured to determine, from the required operating state of each engine, an adapted operating state of said engine as a function of at least one specific parameter relating to the operation of the rail vehicle, and an emission module configured to emit a control signal to each engine.

A system and method generate a trip plan for a trip of a vehicle system along a route. The usage of an engine during the trip is determined based on engine operational parameters, energy storage device operational parameters, and one or more objectives of the trip desired to be achieved. The usage of the energy storage device during the trip is also determined based on the engine operational parameters, the energy storage device operational parameters, and the one or more objective, including when to charge or discharge the energy storage device during the trip.

System includes a controller comprising one or more processors configured to generate alertness requests to an operator of a vehicle system during a trip. The alertness requests are generated according to a determined routine. The controller is further configured to receive reactive inputs from the operator that are responsive to the alertness requests. The controller is further configured to determine whether the trip includes a permissible route segment for suspending the determined routine. The permissible route segment has a route characteristic of one or both of: a reduced likelihood of operator-required events occurring or a predicted workload for the operator that is less than a defined workload threshold.

A system and method for automatically communicating an identification signal from a vehicle controller of a vehicle that may include receiving trip data from a dispatch controller based on the identification signal that is communicated. Software of the vehicle controller may be updated at a determined time based on the trip data that is received, and movement of the vehicle may be controlled based on movement allowance signals received by the vehicle controller and used by the software of the vehicle controller during the movement of the vehicle to determine whether the vehicle is permitted to enter into segments of one or more routes.

A method and a system for transmitting enforceable instructions in a vehicle control (VC) system includes receiving, by a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) calculator, at least one enforceable instruction from vehicle systems. The CRC calculator calculates at least one enforceable instruction CRC based at least partly on the at least one enforceable instruction and transmits the at least one enforceable instruction CRC to a back office server of the VC system and/or an on-board system of a vehicle. Methods for cyclic redundancy check (CRC) hazard mitigation in a vehicle control (VC) system and verifying enforceable instruction data on-board a vehicle are also disclosed.