A system including a plurality of vehicles, each having disposed onboard a location device, a communication device, a control system, and an energy storage device. Thea control system may determine vehicle locations of one or more vehicles of the plurality of vehicles and states of charge of the energy storage devices onboard the one or more vehicles. The control system may communicate with the communication devices of the one or more vehicles and may direct which of one or more vehicles are to couple with each other, and thereby be powered by electric energy stored in the energy storage devices onboard the one or more vehicles directed to couple. The control system may direct which of the one or more vehicles are to couple with and be powered by the electric energy of the energy storage devices based on one or more of: the vehicle locations and the states of charge of the vehicle energy storage devices.

A system including a plurality of vehicles, each having disposed onboard a location device, a communication device, a control system, and an energy storage device. Thea control system may determine vehicle locations of one or more vehicles of the plurality of vehicles and states of charge of the energy storage devices onboard the one or more vehicles. The control system may communicate with the communication devices of the one or more vehicles and may direct which of one or more vehicles are to couple with each other, and thereby be powered by electric energy stored in the energy storage devices onboard the one or more vehicles directed to couple. The control system may direct which of the one or more vehicles are to couple with and be powered by the electric energy of the energy storage devices based on one or more of: the vehicle locations and the states of charge of the vehicle energy storage devices.

A transporting vehicle system includes a prohibited travel zone setter that sets a first prohibited travel zone where entry of a travelling vehicle is prohibited, an additional prohibited travel zone setter that sets a second prohibited travel zone upstream of the first prohibited travel zone according to rules, and a transporting vehicle controller that controls a transporting vehicle to prevent the vehicle from entering the first prohibited travel zone or the second prohibited travel zone.

A transporting vehicle system includes a prohibited travel zone setter that sets a first prohibited travel zone where entry of a travelling vehicle is prohibited, an additional prohibited travel zone setter that sets a second prohibited travel zone upstream of the first prohibited travel zone according to rules, and a transporting vehicle controller that controls a transporting vehicle to prevent the vehicle from entering the first prohibited travel zone or the second prohibited travel zone.

According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of systems and methods for safety interlocking of operator control units for remote control machines. In an exemplary embodiment, an operator control unit configured to enable and disable a safety lock mode for a remote control machine includes a processor, a network interface, an input interface and memory including processor-executable instructions which cause the processor to disable motion controls of the remote control machine while maintaining wireless communication with the remote control machine to allow core non-motion controls of the remote control machine, and in response to a predefined sequence of activations of the multiple inputs during a specified time period, enable motion controls of the remote control machine. Methods for disabling a safety lock mode may include one or more required input interface actions in order to reduce a chance of accidentally disabling the safety lock mode.

A transporting vehicle system includes a prohibited travel zone setter that sets a first prohibited travel zone where entry of a travelling vehicle is prohibited, an additional prohibited travel zone setter that sets a second prohibited travel zone upstream of the first prohibited travel zone according to rules, and a transporting vehicle controller that controls a transporting vehicle to prevent the vehicle from entering the first prohibited travel zone or the second prohibited travel zone.

A transporting vehicle system includes a prohibited travel zone setter that sets a first prohibited travel zone where entry of a travelling vehicle is prohibited, an additional prohibited travel zone setter that sets a second prohibited travel zone upstream of the first prohibited travel zone according to rules, and a transporting vehicle controller that controls a transporting vehicle to prevent the vehicle from entering the first prohibited travel zone or the second prohibited travel zone.

A system and method for controlling locomotives. The system includes a remote control unit (RCU) comprising a processing device and a computer-readable storage medium and a locomotive control unit (LCU) comprising a processing device and a computer-readable storage medium. The LCU is coupled to a locomotive control system of a locomotive for controlling the locomotive and acquiring data therefrom. The LCU is configured for listening to a common radio-frequency channel for a transmission by a network node, waiting for the channel to become free, and transmitting a message after the channel has become free. The RCU is configured for listening to a common radio-frequency channel for a transmission by a network node, waiting for the channel to become free, and transmitting a message after the channel has become free. The system may include one or more repeaters for extending an operational area of the system.

A method for switching railcars at a railroad yard includes accessing a list of selected railcars for an outgoing train. The method further includes generating a plurality of train consists that each comply with a set of train rules. The method further includes displaying indications of the generated train consists and their associated number of railyard switch moves on an electronic display. The method further includes receiving a user selection of a desired train consist from the plurality of displayed train consists. The method further includes generating a plurality of switch lists according to the desired train consist and a current inventory of railcars in the railyard. The switch lists include instructions about how to form the desired train consist in the railyard. The method further includes displaying the plurality of switch lists on the electronic display.

A method for switching railcars at a railroad yard includes accessing a list of selected railcars for an outgoing train. The method further includes generating a plurality of train consists that each comply with a set of train rules. The method further includes displaying indications of the generated train consists and their associated number of railyard switch moves on an electronic display. The method further includes receiving a user selection of a desired train consist from the plurality of displayed train consists. The method further includes generating a plurality of switch lists according to the desired train consist and a current inventory of railcars in the railyard. The switch lists include instructions about how to form the desired train consist in the railyard. The method further includes displaying the plurality of switch lists on the electronic display.