System And Method For Controlling A Vehicle System

A control system comprising:

• a location unit configured to determine when a vehicle system is approaching an entrance to an airflow restricted area along a route, the vehicle system having at least first and second propulsion-generating vehicles that are interconnected with each other;
• an allocation unit configured to distribute a total power output of the vehicle system among at least the first and second propulsion-generating vehicles in response to determining that the vehicle system is approaching the entrance to the airflow restricted area, the total power output being distributed by at least one of directing the first propulsion-generating vehicle to decrease a power output generated by the first propulsion-generating vehicle relative to a power output that is generated by the second propulsion-generating vehicle or directing the second propulsion-generating vehicle to increase the power output generated by the second propulsion-generating vehicle relative to the power output generated by the first propulsion-generating vehicle;
• and
• a monitoring unit configured to determine when the second propulsion-generating vehicle derates during travel of the vehicle system in the airflow restricted area based on one or more decreases in the power output generated by the second propulsion-generating vehicle,
• wherein the allocation unit also is configured to redistribute the total power output of the vehicle system among at least the first and second propulsion-generating vehicles as the vehicle system travels in the airflow restricted area and responsive to the monitoring unit determining that the second propulsion-generating vehicle is derating, the allocation unit being configured to distribute and redistribute the total power output of the vehicle system such that the vehicle system travels through and exits from the airflow restricted area at least one of within a designated time period, with at least a designated speed, within a designated speed range, with at least a designated power output, or within a designated power output range.

A control system comprising:

• a first control system configured to be disposed onboard a first propulsion-generating vehicle of a vehicle system;
• and
• a second control system configured to be disposed onboard a second propulsion-generating vehicle of the vehicle system, the first and second propulsion-generating vehicles interconnected with each other in the vehicle system,
• wherein the first control system is configured to determine when the vehicle system is approaching an entrance to an airflow restricted area along a route and to distribute a total power output of the vehicle system among the first and second propulsion-generating vehicles in response thereto, the total power output being distributed by the first control system decreasing a power output generated by the first propulsion-generating vehicle and by directing the second control system to maintain a power output generated by the second propulsion-generating vehicle above the power output generated by the first propulsion-generating vehicle,
• wherein at least one of the first or second control system is configured to determine when the power output generated by the second propulsion-generating vehicle decreases due to derating of a propulsion system of the second propulsion-generating vehicle during travel of the vehicle system in the airflow restricted area,
• wherein the first control system also is configured to redistribute the total power output of the vehicle system among the first and second propulsion-generating vehicles as the vehicle system travels in the airflow restricted area and responsive to determining that the power output generated by the second propulsion-generating vehicle is decreasing due to derating of the propulsion system, the first control system configured to distribute and redistribute the total power output of the vehicle system such that the vehicle system travels through and exit from the airflow restricted area within a designated time period.

A method comprising:

• determining when a vehicle system traveling along a route is approaching an entrance to an airflow restricted area, the vehicle system including at least first and second propulsion-generating vehicles that are interconnected with each other;
• as the vehicle system approaches the entrance of the airflow restricted area, at least one of directing the first propulsion-generating vehicle to decrease power output generated by the first propulsion-generating vehicle relative to a power output generated by the second propulsion-generating vehicle or directing the second propulsion-generating vehicle to increase the power output generated by the second propulsion-generating vehicle relative to the power output generated by the first propulsion-generating vehicle;
• determining when the second propulsion-generating vehicle derates during travel of the vehicle system in the airflow restricted area;
• and
• as the vehicle system travels in the airflow restricted area and responsive to the second propulsion-generating vehicle derating, changing the respective power outputs generated by the first and second propulsion-generating vehicles to cause the vehicle system to travel through and exit from the airflow restricted area at least one of within a designated time period, with at least a designated speed, within a designated speed range, with at least a designated power output, or within a designated power output range.