Vehicle Consist Communication Link Establishment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for vehicle consists, such as trains, require manual operator intervention to establish communication links between lead and remote locomotives, which is time-consuming and prone to human error, especially in large consists with multiple remote locomotives.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that automatically determine unique vehicle identifiers for remote vehicles, communicate linking messages, and establish communication links without an operator onboard the remote vehicles, allowing the lead vehicle to remotely control the remote vehicles via wireless or wired connections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual operator intervention is used to establish communication links between lead and remote locomotives, then communication links can be established with confirmed identity, but the process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication link establishment reliabilityVSAvoidtime to establish communication links

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The remote locomotives automatically perform identification and communication link establishment with the lead locomotive without requiring manual operator intervention. The system uses self-service mechanisms where locomotives autonomously exchange identification data and establish wireless communication links, eliminating the time-consuming manual process while maintaining reliable connection establishment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Identification data is pre-stored in the remote locomotives before they need to establish communication with the lead locomotive. This preliminary preparation allows for rapid automatic identification and link establishment without requiring operators to manually input information at the time of connection, significantly reducing the time required while ensuring accurate identification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If manual operator intervention is required to input information onboard each remote locomotive, then accurate communication data can be entered, but the process becomes susceptible to human errors and very time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of communication data entryVSAvoid效率 of communication link establishment

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system eliminates manual data entry by implementing automatic identification where remote locomotives autonomously provide and exchange their identification data with the lead locomotive. This self-service approach removes human operators from the data input process entirely, eliminating human error while simultaneously dramatically increasing productivity by establishing multiple communication links in parallel without sequential manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical process of operators physically entering data onboard each locomotive is replaced with an automated electronic identification system. The system uses wireless communication and automated data exchange protocols to substitute the manual input process, achieving both higher accuracy through automated data capture and higher productivity through parallel processing of multiple locomotives

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If operators must go onboard each remote locomotive to establish communication links, then proper identification can be confirmed, but considerable time and effort are expended

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveidentification accuracyVSAvoidoperational simplicity of link establishment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The identification process is automated through self-service mechanisms where remote locomotives autonomously present their identification data to the lead locomotive via wireless communication. This eliminates the need for operators to physically board each remote locomotive, maintaining reliable identification through automated verification while dramatically simplifying the operational process to a remote electronic procedure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

A wireless communication system acts as an intermediary between the lead locomotive and remote locomotives, enabling identification and link establishment without physical presence. This intermediary mechanism allows the lead locomotive to remotely verify identification data and establish communication links, maintaining identification reliability while greatly improving ease of operation by eliminating the need for operators to travel to and onboard each remote unit

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9862392B2Communication system and method of a vehicle consist

Publication Date: 2018.01.09 TRANSPORTATION IP HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

A communication system and method receive, at an energy management system disposed onboard a vehicle system formed from a lead vehicle and one or more remote vehicles, trip data that represents one or more characteristics of an upcoming trip of the vehicle system along a route. A selected portion of the trip data is communicated from the energy management system to a distributed power system also disposed onboard the vehicle system. The selected portion includes identifying information and one or more orientations of the one or more remote vehicles. Using the distributed power system, communication links between the lead vehicle and the one or more remote vehicles are established using the identifying information and the one or more orientations.