Control system for optimizing the operation of two or more locomotives of a consist

A system for controlling in response to an operator a consist of at least first and second locomotives having discrete operating modes, said system comprising:

• an operator control for use by the operator to indicate a desired operating mode;
• a first controller responsive to the desired operating mode as indicated by the operator control for controlling a power operating mode of the first locomotive;
• a second controller responsive to the desired operating mode as indicated by the operator control for controlling a power operating mode of the second locomotive wherein, in at least one mode of operation of the system, the power operating mode of the second locomotive is different as compared to the power operating mode of the first locomotive;
• and
• a communication link interconnecting the first and second controller and providing information corresponding to the desired operating mode to the first and second controller;
• and
• a link to a GPS indicating a position of the consist and wherein the power operating mode is optimized as a function of the position of the consist as indicated by the GPS.

A system for controlling in response to an operator a consist of at least first and second locomotives having discrete operating modes, said system comprising:

• an operator control for use by the operator to indicate a desired operating mode;
• a first controller responsive to the desired operating mode as indicated by the operator control for controlling a power operating mode of the first locomotive;
• a second controller responsive to the desired operating mode as indicated by the operator control for controlling a power operating mode of the second locomotive wherein, in at least one mode of operation of the system, the power operating mode of the second locomotive is different as compared to the power operating mode of the first locomotive;
• and
• a communication link interconnecting the first and second controller and providing information corresponding to the desired operating mode to the first and second controller;
• and
• wherein the power operating mode of the first and second locomotives is a performance parameter, wherein a performance profile of the first and second locomotives is known and wherein the first and second operating modes are selected to optimize the performance parameter as a function of the performance profile.

A system for controlling in response to an operator a consist of at least first and second locomotives having discrete operating modes, said system comprising:

• an operator control for use by the operator to indicate a desired operating mode;
• a first controller responsive to the desired operating mode as indicated by the operator control for controlling a power operating mode of the first locomotive;
• a second controller responsive to the desired operating mode as indicated by the operator control for controlling a power operating mode of the second locomotive wherein, in at least one mode of operation of the system, the power operating mode of the second locomotive is different as compared to the power operating mode of the first locomotive;
• and
• a communication link interconnecting the first and second controller and providing information corresponding to the desired operating mode to the first and second controller;
• and
• wherein an operating parameter of a locomotive in which a crew member is riding is reduced as compared to an operating parameter of a locomotive in which a crew member is not riding.

A system for controlling a consist of at least a first locomotive having a first locomotive control and a second locomotive having a second locomotive control in response to operator input provided to a master control for the consist, said system comprising:

• a communication link providing command information from the master control;
• a first processing module for receiving the command information from the communication link and providing control information to the first locomotive control for controlling a power operating mode of the first locomotive;
• a second processing module for receiving the command information from the communication link and providing control information to the second locomotive control for controlling a power operating mode of the second locomotive wherein, in at least one mode of operation, the power operating mode of the second locomotive is different as compared to the power operating mode of the first locomotive;
• and
• wherein the power operating mode of the first and second locomotives is selected to optimize, braking of the first and second locomotives.

A system for controlling a consist of at least a first locomotive having a first locomotive control and a second locomotive having a second locomotive control in response to operator input provided to a master control for the consist, said system comprising:

• a communication link providing command information from the master control;
• a first processing module for receiving the command information from the communication link and providing control information to the first locomotive control for controlling a power operating mode of the first locomotive;
• a second processing module for receiving the command information from the communication link and providing control information to the second locomotive control for controlling a power operating mode of the second locomotive wherein, in at least one mode of operation, the power operating mode of the second locomotive is different as compared to the power operating mode of the first locomotive;
• and
• a link to a GPS indicating a position of the consist and wherein the power operating mode is optimized as a function of the position of the consist as indicated by the GPS.

A system for controlling a consist of at least a first locomotive having a first locomotive control and a second locomotive having a second locomotive control in response to operator input provided to a master control for the consist, said system comprising:

• a communication link providing command information from the master control;
• a first processing module for receiving the command information from the communication link and providing control information to the first locomotive control for controlling a power operating mode of the first locomotive;
• a second processing module for receiving the command information from the communication link and providing control information to the second locomotive control for controlling a power operating mode of the second locomotive wherein, in at least one mode of operation, the power operating mode of the second locomotive is different as compared to the power operating mode of the first locomotive;
• and
• wherein the power operating mode of the first and second locomotives is a performance parameter, wherein a performance profile of the first and second locomotives is known and wherein the first and second operating modes are selected to optimize the performance parameter as a function of the performance profile.

A system for controlling a consist of at least a first locomotive having a first locomotive control and a second locomotive having a second locomotive control in response to operator input provided to a master control for the consist, said system comprising:

• a communication link providing command information from the master control;
• a first processing module for receiving the command information from the communication link and providing control information to the first locomotive control for controlling a power operating mode of the first locomotive;
• a second processing module for receiving the command information from the communication link and providing control information to the second locomotive control for controlling a power operating mode of the second locomotive wherein, in at least one mode of operation, the power operating mode of the second locomotive is different as compared to the power operating mode of the first locomotive;
• and
• wherein an operating parameter of a locomotive in which a crew member is riding is reduced as compared to an operating parameter of a locomotive in which a crew member is not riding.

In a system for controlling in response to an operator a consist of at least first and second locomotives, wherein the system includes:

• an operator control for use by the operator to indicate a desired operating mode of the consist;
• a first controller for controlling a discrete power operating mode of the first locomotive;
• a second controller for controlling a discrete power operating mode of the second locomotive;
• a communication link for communicating the desired operating mode of the consist to the first and second controllers;
• further comprising:
• a first module between the operator control and the first control, the first module receiving the desired operating mode via the communication link and selectively providing a first modified operating mode to the first controller;
• a second module between the operator control and the second control, the second module receiving the desired operating mode via the communication link and selectively providing a second modified operating mode to the second controller;
• wherein, in at least one mode of operation of the consist, the power operating mode of the first and second locomotives is different as compared to the desired operating mode of the consist;
• and
• wherein the power operating mode of the first and second locomotives is selected to optimize braking capacity of the first and second locomotives.

In a system for controlling in response to an operator a consist of at least first and second locomotives, wherein the system includes:

• an operator control for use by the operator to indicate a desired operating mode of the consist;
• a first controller for controlling a discrete power operating mode of the first locomotive;
• a second controller for controlling a discrete power operating mode of the second locomotive;
• a communication link for communicating the desired operating mode of the consist to the first and second controllers;
• further comprising:
• a first module between the operator control and the first control, the first module receiving the desired operating mode via the communication link and selectively providing a first modified operating mode to the first controller;
• a second module between the operator control and the second control, the second module receiving the desired operating mode via the communication link and selectively providing a second modified operating mode to the second controller;
• a link to a GPS indicating a position of the consist and wherein the power operating mode is optimized as a function of the position of the consist as indicated by the GPS;
• and
• wherein, in at least one mode of operation of the consist, the power operating mode of the first and second locomotives is different as compared to the desired operating mode of the consist.

In a system for controlling in response to an operator a consist of at least first and second locomotives, wherein the system includes:

• an operator control for use by the operator to indicate a desired operating mode of the consist;
• a first controller for controlling a discrete power operating mode of the first locomotive;
• a second controller for controlling a discrete power operating mode of the second locomotive;
• a communication link for communicating the desired operating mode of the consist to the first and second controllers;
• further comprising:
• a first module between the operator control and the first control, the first module receiving the desired operating mode via the communication link and selectively providing a first modified operating mode to the first controller;
• a second module between the operator control and the second control, the second module receiving the desired operating mode via the communication link and selectively providing a second modified operating mode to the second controller;
• wherein, in at least one mode of operation of the consist, the power operating mode of the first and second locomotives is different as compared to the desired operating mode of the consist;
• and
• wherein the power operating mode of the first and second locomotives is a performance parameter, wherein a performance profile of the first and second locomotives is known and wherein the first and second operating modes are selected to optimize the performance parameter as a function of the performance profile.