A railway vehicle charging control method includes the following steps: receiving vehicle information of the railway vehicle and a charging request transmitted by a signal system; establishing wireless communication connection with a vehicle control unit of the railway vehicle according to the vehicle information of the railway vehicle; determining a pantograph charger corresponding to the railway vehicle; controlling the pantograph charger corresponding to the railway vehicle to descend; and controlling, according to the charging request, to start charging the railway vehicle. The method is combined with the signal system of the railway vehicle, establishes communication connection with the corresponding railway vehicle according to the charging request and the vehicle information of the railway vehicle transmitted by the signal system, and controls the pantograph charger corresponding to the railway vehicle to descend, to charge the railway vehicle.

An unmanned rail vehicle for surveillance, inspection, and/or maintenance of an industrial site is provided. The rail vehicle includes at least two carry rollers adapted for engaging on an upper rail side of a rail, wherein the center of gravity of the rail vehicle is vertically below the upper rail side; and at least one support roller connected to the chassis and adapted for rolling against a lateral rail side of the rail to laterally displace the center of gravity of the rail vehicle with respect to the upper rail side.

An unmanned rail vehicle for surveillance, inspection, and/or maintenance of an industrial site is provided. The rail vehicle includes at least two carry rollers adapted for engaging on an upper rail side of a rail, wherein the center of gravity of the rail vehicle is vertically below the upper rail side; and at least one support roller connected to the chassis and adapted for rolling against a lateral rail side of the rail to laterally displace the center of gravity of the rail vehicle with respect to the upper rail side.

Disclosed is an autonomous battery pod. The autonomous battery pod for harnessing kinetic energy of rotating wheels to produce electrical energy while the autonomous battery pod is movably coupled with a train is provided. The autonomous battery pod includes a turbine adapted for producing electrical energy using harnessed kinetic energy through a plurality of extendable wheels connected with the turbine using a plurality of gearbox; and a plurality of batteries electrically coupled with the turbine, adapted for storing produced electrical energy using harnessed kinetic energy through the plurality of extendable wheels connected to the turbine.

Disclosed is an autonomous battery pod. The autonomous battery pod for harnessing kinetic energy of rotating wheels to produce electrical energy while the autonomous battery pod is movably coupled with a train is provided. The autonomous battery pod includes a turbine adapted for producing electrical energy using harnessed kinetic energy through a plurality of extendable wheels connected with the turbine using a plurality of gearbox; and a plurality of batteries electrically coupled with the turbine, adapted for storing produced electrical energy using harnessed kinetic energy through the plurality of extendable wheels connected to the turbine.

A hybrid power locomotive and an energy balance control method and system thereof is disclosed. In embodiments of the disclosure, the energy utilization rate is maximized by means of self-adaptive matching of the rotating speed and the power, dynamic balance control over the actual output voltage of the power pack is achieved by means of charging and discharging control over the energy storage element, and energy waste and power pack overload are avoided.

A hybrid power locomotive and an energy balance control method and system thereof is disclosed. In embodiments of the disclosure, the energy utilization rate is maximized by means of self-adaptive matching of the rotating speed and the power, dynamic balance control over the actual output voltage of the power pack is achieved by means of charging and discharging control over the energy storage element, and energy waste and power pack overload are avoided.

A self-propelled railcar having a structure; at least one bogie attached to the structure, a sensor suite; a propulsion motor; and an energy storage system. The at least one bogie having at least one powered axle. The sensor suite has a processor and a plurality of sensors. The energy storage system includes a controller and a power source, wherein the controller provides energy from the power source to the propulsion motor to the powered axle in a predetermined manner to control movement of the self-propelled railcar. The energy storage system may be off-board.

A self-propelled railcar having a structure; at least one bogie attached to the structure, a sensor suite; a propulsion motor; and an energy storage system. The at least one bogie having at least one powered axle. The sensor suite has a processor and a plurality of sensors. The energy storage system includes a controller and a power source, wherein the controller provides energy from the power source to the propulsion motor to the powered axle in a predetermined manner to control movement of the self-propelled railcar. The energy storage system may be off-board.

Example embodiments relate to implementing self-contained power sources for railcars. A railcar may include an air turbine that comprises a generator. The air turbine converts mechanical energy received from air to electrical energy by way of the generator. In some implementations, the air turbine is selectably coupled to the air brake system of the railcar and can convert mechanical energy received from pressurized air of the air brake system. The railcar can further include a pneumatic valve and a controller that can cause the pneumatic valve to open when the air pressure of the air brake system is at or above a predetermined level. Opening the pneumatic valve provides pressurized air to the air turbine from the air brake system and/or an exhaust pipe. The air turbine is a Wells turbine or a ram air turbine in some examples.