# US 2014/0156119 A1 · Back-up and redundancy of modules in locomotive distributed control systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0156119 A1 - Document ID: US20140156119A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/691,103 - Filed: 2012-11-30 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc. - Applicants: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc. - Inventors: James Fredrick Wiemeyer; Michael Patrick Deitz; Dale Alexander Brown; Lawrence Stanley Przybylski; Wayne Allen Rudolph - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140156119A1 ## CPC - B61C 17/12: Control gear; Arrangements for controlling locomotives from remote points in the train or when operating in multiple units (control from points outside the train B61L3/00; fluid-actuated telemotors, servomotors F15B; control devices in general G05) - B61C: LOCOMOTIVES; MOTOR RAILCARS (vehicles in general B60; frames or bogies B61F; special railroad equipment for locomotives B61J, B61K) ## Abstract The present disclosure is directed to a distributed control system for a locomotive. The distributed system may include a network, a plurality of electronic modules and a plurality of control elements distributed within the locomotive. Each of the electronic modules is communicatively coupled to the network in a standardized scalable architecture. Each of the electronic modules may be programmatically reconfigurable to implement distributed control of the locomotive. A first electronic module and a second electronic module of the plurality of electronic modules may be communicatively connected to one of the plurality of control elements via separate communication paths. The first electronic module may be configured to control the control element, and the second electronic module may be configured to control the control element when the first electronic module enters into a failure condition. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A distributed control system for a locomotive, comprising: a network disposed within the locomotive; a plurality of electronic modules spatially distributed within the locomotive, each of the electronic modules communicatively coupled to the network in a standardized scalable architecture and being programmatically reconfigurable to implement distributed control of the locomotive; and a plurality of control elements distributed within the locomotive, wherein a first electronic module and a second electronic module of the plurality of electronic modules are communicatively connected to one of the plurality of control elements via separate communication paths, the first electronic module is configured to control the control element, and the second electronic module is configured to control the control element when the first electronic module enters into a failure condition. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein the first and second electronic modules are configured to perform the same algorithmic activity. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of electronic modules includes a configurable controller, an internal circuitry of the configurable controller being reconnectable in different configurations to implement at least one of a plurality of control functions associated with distributed control of the locomotive. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The distributed control system of claim 3, wherein the configurable controller is a field programmable gate array. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The distributed control system of claim 3, wherein at least one of the electronic modules further includes a programmable controller in communication with each of the configurable controller and the network. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein the second electronic module is configured to monitor the first electronic module to determine whether the first electronic module enters into the failure condition. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein a third electronic module of the plurality of electronic modules is configured to monitor the first electronic module to determine whether the first electronic module enters into the failure condition. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein the first electronic module enters into the failure condition when a consumption of processing capacity of the first electronic module exceeds a threshold value. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein the first electronic module enters into the failure condition when a communication between the first electronic module and the control element is failed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein the first electronic module enters into the failure condition when the first electronic module is unable to perform a designated control function. ### Claim 11 A method for controlling a locomotive, the method comprising: monitoring, by a processor in the locomotive, a first electronic module of a plurality of electronic modules spatially distributed within the locomotive, the plurality of electronic modules being communicatively coupled to a network in a standardized scalable architecture and being programmatically reconfigurable to implement distributed control of the locomotive, the first electronic module and a second electronic module of the plurality of electronic modules being communicatively connected to one of a plurality of control elements via separate communication paths, and the first electronic module being configured to control the control element; determining, by the processor, whether the first electronic module enters into a failure condition; and when the processor determines that the first electronic module enters into the failure condition, instructing, by the processor, the second electronic module to control the control element. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the processor is included in the second electronic module. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the processor is included in a third electronic module of the plurality of electronic modules. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein determining whether the first electronic module enters into a failure condition includes determining whether the consumption of processing capacity of the first electronic module exceeds a threshold value. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein determining whether the first electronic module enters into a failure condition includes determining whether the first electronic module is able to perform a designated control function. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein determining whether the first electronic module enters into a failure condition includes determining whether a communication between the first electronic module and the control element is failed. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the first and second electronic modules are configured to perform the same algorithmic activity. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of electronic modules includes a configurable controller, an internal circuitry of the configurable controller being reconnectable in different configurations to implement at least one of a plurality of control functions associated with distributed control of the locomotive. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein at least one of the electronic modules further includes a programmable controller in communication with each of the configurable controller and the network. ### Claim 20 A consist, comprising: a plurality of locomotives, each locomotive comprising: a network disposed within the locomotive; a plurality of electronic modules spatially distributed within the locomotive, each of the electronic modules communicatively coupled to the network in a standardized scalable architecture and being programmatically reconfigurable to implement distributed control of the locomotive; and a plurality of control elements distributed within the locomotive, wherein a first electronic module and a second electronic module of the plurality of electronic modules are communicatively connected to one of the plurality of control elements via separate communication paths, the first electronic module is configured to control the control element, and the second electronic module is configured to control the control element when the first electronic module enters into a failure condition.