Distributed control system for a locomotive

A method for controlling a locomotive, the method comprising:

• receiving a message by a first of a plurality of electronic modules coupled to a network disposed within the locomotive, each of the electronic modules spatially distributed within the locomotive and operatively coupled to the network in a standardized scalable architecture;
• processing the message by a programmable controller or a configurable controller in the first of the electronic modules to identify a first control command;
• based upon the identified first control command, generating a control signal by the configurable controller, the control signal associated with at least one of a plurality of control functions as part of distributed control of the locomotive;
• and
• applying the generated control signal to one or more control elements disposed within the locomotive.

A consist, comprising:

• a plurality of locomotives, each locomotive comprising:
• a locomotive engine disposed within the locomotive;
• a plurality of control elements that monitor and control the locomotive;
• a network disposed within the locomotive;
• and
• a plurality of electronic modules distributed within the locomotive, each of the electronic modules communicatively coupled to the network in a standardized scalable architecture, wherein each of the electronic modules comprises at least:
• a configurable controller that is reconfigurable and adapted to implement at least one of a plurality of control functions associated with distributed control of the locomotive, and
• a programmable controller adapted to provide computational support for the at least one control function, and
• wherein the configurable controller of each of the electronic modules is operatively connected at least one of the control elements.