According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of apparatus and methods for monitoring and controlling distributed machines. In an exemplary embodiment, a network includes machines each having sensor(s) and/or actuator(s). Each machine has a node resident on the machine and/or in communication with the machine and that provides raw data from the sensor(s) and/or actuator(s). Each node has a network interface, and a processor and memory configured as a node agent to embed the raw data in message(s) without reformatting the raw data. An engine receives and reformats messages from the node agents without reformatting raw data embedded in the messages. The engine directs the reformatted messages including the raw data to user device(s) for use in managing machine activity and/or status. The engine also sends a message from a user device to a node of a given machine, for use in controlling activity and/or status of the given machine.

A method for route handling of a regional centralized control station is based on a CTC3.0 technology, and includes the following steps: step (1): generating multi-station train and shunting plans according to a multi-station planning terminal, and executing steps (2) and (4) at the same time; step (2): sending the train plan to an autonomous computer to generate a train route sequence, and executing step (3); step (3): sending, by the autonomous computer, the train route sequence to a regional centralized control route handling terminal; step (4): compiling, by the multi-station planning terminal, an automatically generated shunting route sequence in the shunting plan, and executing step (5); and step (5): synchronizing, by a center service, the shunting route sequence to the regional centralized control route handling terminal.

A method for route handling of a regional centralized control station is based on a CTC3.0 technology, and includes the following steps: step (1): generating multi-station train and shunting plans according to a multi-station planning terminal, and executing steps (2) and (4) at the same time; step (2): sending the train plan to an autonomous computer to generate a train route sequence, and executing step (3); step (3): sending, by the autonomous computer, the train route sequence to a regional centralized control route handling terminal; step (4): compiling, by the multi-station planning terminal, an automatically generated shunting route sequence in the shunting plan, and executing step (5); and step (5): synchronizing, by a center service, the shunting route sequence to the regional centralized control route handling terminal.

The object of the present invention is to provide a system for operating a marshalling yard in a more efficient and time saving way, by avoiding unnecessary procedures of preparation, usually done manually by mechanical means only, and turn it into an advanced technological facility.

A permanent magnet retarder comprises a housing and a cylinder. The cylinder (2) is inserted into the housing (1) and can move up and down relative to the housing (1). The housing (1) is further provided with a conductor (3) and a permanent magnet (4) therein which are disposed oppositely and constitute a permanent magnet eddy current deceleration assembly. The conductor (3) is fixedly disposed on an inner wall of the housing (1) and the permanent magnet (4) is fixedly disposed on the cylinder (2); alternatively, the conductor (3) is fixedly disposed on the cylinder (2) and the permanent magnet (4) is fixedly disposed on the inner wall of the housing (1). The housing (1) is further provided with an upper return permanent magnet (5) and a lower return permanent magnet (6) therein disposed oppositely.

A method for assigning train blocks at a railroad merchandise yard includes determining, using a first optimization model and outbound train schedule data, a first list of train block assignments for a planning horizon. The method further includes determining whether an unassigned train block volume from the first optimization model is greater than zero. The method further includes displaying the first list of train block assignments generated by the first optimization model on an electronic display in response to determining that the unassigned train block volume from the first optimization model is not greater than zero. The method further includes, in response to determining that the unassigned train block volume from the first optimization model is greater than zero: determining and then displaying on the electronic display a second list of train block assignments for the planning horizon using a second optimization model and the outbound train schedule data.

A control system is for a railway yard with railroad tracks. The control system may include RCLs and sets of railcars on the railroad tracks. The control system may include railyard sensors configured to generate railyard sensor data of the railroad tracks, and a server in communication with the RCLs and the railyard sensors. The server may be configured to generate a database associated with the sets of railcars based upon the railyard sensor data. The database may have, for each railcar, a railcar type value, a railcar logo image, and a vehicle classification value. The server may be configured to selectively control the RCLs to position the sets of railcars within the railroad tracks based upon the railyard sensor data.

A control system is for a railway yard with railroad tracks. The control system may include RCLs and sets of railcars on the railroad tracks. The control system may include railyard sensors configured to generate railyard sensor data of the railroad tracks, and a server in communication with the RCLs and the railyard sensors. The server may be configured to generate a database associated with the sets of railcars based upon the railyard sensor data. The database may have, for each railcar, a railcar type value, a railcar logo image, and a vehicle classification value. The server may be configured to selectively control the RCLs to position the sets of railcars within the railroad tracks based upon the railyard sensor data.

A terminal operating system includes one or more processors configured to obtain one or more parameters of non-propulsion-generating cargo vehicles and to determine which of the non-propulsion-generating cargo vehicles are to be included in a vehicle system assembled in a terminal or yard based on the one or more parameters. The one or more parameters include one or more of an earliest time of availability at which cargo equipment will be available in the terminal or yard, a safety operational characteristic, an efficiency operational characteristic of the one or more non-propulsion-generating cargo vehicles, and/or a priority parameter of the one or more non-propulsion-generating cargo vehicles. The one or more processors are configured to automatically direct equipment within the terminal or yard to assemble the vehicle system based on the one or more parameters.

A terminal operating system includes one or more processors configured to obtain one or more parameters of non-propulsion-generating cargo vehicles and to determine which of the non-propulsion-generating cargo vehicles are to be included in a vehicle system assembled in a terminal or yard based on the one or more parameters. The one or more parameters include one or more of an earliest time of availability at which cargo equipment will be available in the terminal or yard, a safety operational characteristic, an efficiency operational characteristic of the one or more non-propulsion-generating cargo vehicles, and/or a priority parameter of the one or more non-propulsion-generating cargo vehicles. The one or more processors are configured to automatically direct equipment within the terminal or yard to assemble the vehicle system based on the one or more parameters.