Autonomous rail vehicle systems and methods

An autonomous rail vehicle, comprising:

• a first motive system and a second motive system, each of the first and second motive systems comprising:
• a bogie assembly including a first frame portion and a second frame portion operably coupled with the first frame portion, wherein the first frame portion is configured to move in one or more directions relative to the second frame portion;
• a vehicle frame operably coupled with the bogie assembly, the vehicle frame including structures configured to control a direction of air moving around the vehicle frame, wherein one or more of the structures are adjustable structures and are configured to move between extended states and retracted states;
• one or more energy storage devices configured to provide power to the autonomous rail vehicle;
• a steering sub-system including one or more sensors operably coupled with the bogie assembly and configured to detect a curvature of a route along which the autonomous rail vehicle is configured to move, the steering sub-system including a wheelset positioning assembly configured to change a position of one or more wheelsets of the first and second motive systems based at least in part on the curvature of the route that is detected;
• a propulsion system and a braking system configured to control a speed of movement of the autonomous rail vehicle;
• a thermal control system configured to control a thermal energy level of one or more components of the autonomous rail vehicle;
• a pressure control system comprising valves configured to move between open positions and closed positions based at least in part on an operating condition of the autonomous rail vehicle;
• and
• a control unit configured to control one or more operations of one or more of the energy storage devices, the steering sub-system, the propulsion system, the braking system, the thermal control system, and the pressure system;
• and
• a trailer extending between a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the trailer is configured to be operably coupled with the first motive system and the second end of the trailer is configured to be operably coupled with the second motive system, the trailer comprising surfaces defining a cavity configured to receive one or more cargo containers, the trailer including one or more powered footing assemblies configured to be controlled by one or more of the control unit of the first motive system or the control unit of the second motive system, wherein the one or more powered footing assemblies are configured to move between a first position and a second position to change a position of the trailer relative to a position of the first and second motive systems.