Vehicle control systems and methods

A method, comprising:

• communicatively coupling a first communication system of a first vehicle with a second communication system of a second vehicle;
• determining an orientation of the second vehicle relative to an orientation of the first vehicle;
• identifying a type of the second vehicle;
• generating a first set of vehicle control signals with a first controller based at least in part on the orientation of the second vehicle and the type of the second vehicle;
• communicating the first set of vehicle control signals with a second communication system of the second vehicle, the second vehicle including a second controller configured to control operation of the second vehicle;
• and
• overriding control of the second vehicle by the second controller to control operation of the first vehicle and the second vehicle according to the first set of vehicle control signals.

A vehicle control system, comprising:

• a first controller including one or more processors configured to control operation of a first vehicle;
• a first communication system configured to be disposed onboard the first vehicle;
• a second controller including one or more processors configured to control operation of a second vehicle;
• and
• a second communication system configured to be disposed onboard the second vehicle,
• the first controller configured to determine an orientation of the second vehicle relative to an orientation of the first vehicle, the first controller configured to identify a type of the second vehicle,
• the first controller configured to generate a first set of vehicle control signals based at least in part on the orientation of the second vehicle and the type of the second vehicle, the first communication system configured to communicate the first set of vehicle control signals with the second communication system,
• the first controller configured to control operation of a propulsion system of the first vehicle according to the first set of vehicle control signals to generate a first amount of tractive effort,
• the first controller configured to override control of a propulsion system of the second vehicle by the second controller to control operation of the propulsion system of the second vehicle according to the first set of vehicle control signals to generate a second amount of tractive effort, and
• wherein the first amount of tractive effort is configured to be combined with the second amount of tractive effort to control movement of a load operably coupled with the first and second vehicles.