Remote vehicle operator assignment system

A system comprising:

• one or more processors configured to determine time-variable risk profiles for plural separate vehicle systems that are remotely controlled by operators that are located off-board the separate vehicle systems, the time-variable risk profiles representing one or more risks to travel of the separate vehicle systems during trips of the separate vehicle systems that change with respect to time during the trips of the separate vehicle systems,
• wherein the one or more processors also are configured to assign the operators to remotely monitor or control the separate vehicle systems during the trips based on the time-variable risk profiles,
• wherein the one or more processors are also configured to control the vehicle systems to change at least one of throttle setting, speed, or brake setting based on the time-variable risk profiles;
• and
• wherein the operator assigned to one or more of the separate vehicle systems changes with respect to time during the trip of the one or more separate vehicle systems while the one or more separate vehicle systems is moving along one or more routes during the trip.

A method comprising:

• determining a time-variable risk profile for a vehicle system that is to be one or more of remotely controlled or remotely monitored by one or more operators that are located off-board the vehicle system;
• determining an operator staffing demand for the vehicle system based on the time-variable risk profile that is determined, the operator staffing demand representing how many of the operators are needed for one or more of remotely controlling or remotely monitoring the vehicle system;
• controlling the vehicle systems to change at least one of throttle setting, speed, brake setting based on the time-variable risk profiles;
• and
• assigning at least one of the operators to remotely monitor or control the vehicle system based on the operator staffing demand and the time-variable risk profile, wherein the at least one operator assigned to the vehicle system changes with respect to time during travel of the vehicle system.