Locomotive Consist Power Matching for Autonomous-to-Manual Disengagement

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems fail to address independent throttle settings for locomotives during disengagement from autonomous mode, leading to substantial power transitions and handling disturbances when transitioning to manual mode.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that calculates and incrementally adjusts lead and trail locomotive power settings to match a target power setting, minimizing power surges and handling disturbances during disengagement from autonomous to manual mode.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the energy-management system applies a common throttle position for all locomotives equal to the lead locomotive throttle at disengagement, then the disengagement process is simplified, but substantial power transitions and handling disturbances occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisengagement process simplicityVSAvoidpower surges and handling disturbances

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calculations to determine a target throttle position that will result in disengaged power close to engaged power. Before actual disengagement occurs, the system computes the appropriate throttle setting and prepares the locomotives by incrementally adjusting their throttle positions to match this target, thereby preventing power surges and handling disturbances during the transition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the throttle positions of locomotives during the disengagement process. Rather than applying a static common throttle position, the system incrementally changes throttle settings to optimize the transition, maintaining power stability while moving from autonomous to manual mode.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If the system sets all locomotives to the lead locomotive throttle position during disengagement, then the control process is simplified, but the total consist power changes significantly impacting train handling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol process complexityVSAvoidtrain handling

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calculations to determine a target throttle position that will result in disengaged power close to engaged power. Before actual disengagement occurs, the system computes the appropriate throttle setting and prepares the locomotives by incrementally adjusting their throttle positions to match this target, thereby preventing power surges and handling disturbances during the transition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from the engaged power measurement to adjust the target throttle position calculation. By comparing the current engaged power with the expected disengaged power at different throttle positions, the system selects the optimal throttle setting that minimizes power changes and maintains stable train handling during disengagement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the system calculates and incrementally adjusts locomotive power settings to match a target power setting, then power surges and handling disturbances are minimized, but the disengagement process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower surges and handling disturbancesVSAvoiddisengagement process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calculations to determine a target throttle position that will result in disengaged power close to engaged power. Before actual disengagement occurs, the system computes the appropriate throttle setting and prepares the locomotives by incrementally adjusting their throttle positions to match this target, thereby preventing power surges and handling disturbances during the transition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the throttle position parameter dynamically during disengagement to optimize power stability. By adjusting the throttle position incrementally rather than making a single large change, the system maintains power stability while transitioning from autonomous to manual mode, balancing complexity with performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12448011B2Systems and methods for disengaging locomotives from autonomous control

Publication Date: 2025.10.21 PROGRESS RAIL LOCOMOTIVE INC

AI summary

An energy-management system of a train includes a consist disengagement module configured to control disengagement of a train consist from an autonomous mode to a manual mode of operation. After receiving an instruction to disengage, the system determines an engaged power of the consist in the autonomous mode and calculates an effective position for a consist throttle where the consist would generate a disengaged power in manual mode most closely approximating the engaged power. After causing the throttle handle to be moved to the effective position, the consist disengagement module incrementally changes the operational settings for either a lead locomotive or a trail locomotive until the operational settings match the effective position for the consist throttle. The system chooses the changes to maintain the consist output power close to the disengaged power, avoiding surges in consist power and minimizing handling disturbances during disengagement.