Geometric track and track/vehicle analyzers and methods for controlling railroad systems

A method for improving operational safety and overall efficiency, including fuel efficiency, vehicle wheel wear, and track wear, for a track and a vehicle traveling on the track, comprising:

• a) determining track parameters comprising at least one parameter of a group including a grade of the track, a superelevation of the track, a gauge of the track, and a curvature of the track;
• b) determining vehicle parameters comprising at least one parameter of a group including a speed of the vehicle relative to the track, a distance the vehicle has traveled on the track, forces on a drawbar of the vehicle, a set of global positioning system coordinates for the vehicle, and a set of orthogonal accelerations experienced by the vehicle;
• c) determining a plurality of calculated parameters as a function of the track parameters and the vehicle parameters, including a balance speed parameter for the vehicle;
• d) determining in real-time if the track parameters, the vehicle parameters, and the calculated parameters associated with the balance speed parameter are within acceptable tolerances associated with the balance speed parameter;
• e) if any one of the track parameters, the vehicle parameters, or the calculated parameters associated with the balance speed parameter are not within acceptable tolerances, determining a first optimized control strategy for the vehicle;
• and
• f) communicating the first optimized control strategy, the track parameters, the vehicle parameters, and the calculated parameters to a locomotive control computer in a lead unit associated with the vehicle so that the locomotive control computer can alter a current control strategy to promote operational safety and overall efficiency, including fuel efficiency, minimizing vehicle wheel wear, and minimizing track wear.

A method for improving operational safety and overall efficiency, including fuel efficiency, vehicle wheel wear, and track wear, for a track and a train traveling on the track, comprising:

• a) determining track parameters comprising at least one parameter of a group including a grade of the track, a superelevation of the track, a gauge of the track, and a curvature of the track;
• b) determining train parameters associated with a vehicle of the train including forces on a drawbar of the vehicle;
• c) determining a plurality of calculated parameters as a function of the track parameters and the train parameters;
• d) determining in real-time if the track parameters, the train parameters, and the calculated parameters are within acceptable tolerances;
• e) if any one of the track parameters, the train parameters, or the calculated parameters are not within acceptable tolerances, generating corrective measures;
• and
• f) communicating the corrective measures to a locomotive control computer in a helper unit of the train so that the locomotive control computer can alter a current control strategy to promote operational safety and overall efficiency, including fuel efficiency, minimizing vehicle wheel wear, and minimizing track wear.

A method for improving operational safety for a track and multiple independent vehicles traveling on the track, comprising:

• a) on a first vehicle traveling on the track, determining track parameters comprising at least one parameter of a group including a grade of the track, a superelevation of the track, a gauge of the track, and a curvature of the track;
• b) on the first vehicle, determining vehicle parameters comprising at least one parameter of a group including a distance the first vehicle has traveled on the track and a set of global positioning system coordinates for the first vehicle
• c) determining a plurality of calculated parameters as a function of the track parameters and the vehicle parameters;
• d) on the first vehicle, determining in real-time if the track parameters, the vehicle parameters, and the calculated parameters are within acceptable tolerances;
• and
• e) if any one of the track parameters, the vehicle parameters, or the calculated parameters are not within acceptable tolerances, transmitting a message from the first vehicle to a centralized control office to notify the office that defects have been detected in a portion of the track and provide the track parameters, the vehicle parameters, and the calculated parameters associated with the defective portion of the track.

A method for dynamically modeling a behavior for a vehicle associated with a train traveling on a track or for an individual vehicle traveling on the track, comprising:

• a) identifying a train manifest for the train;
• b) identifying a plurality of physical characteristics for each vehicle;
• c) identifying a plurality of operating characteristics for each vehicle over a range of operational situations;
• d) determining track parameters comprising at least one parameter of a group including a grade of the track, a superelevation of the track, a gauge of the track, and a curvature of the track;
• e) determining vehicle parameters for a first vehicle comprising at least one parameter of a group including a speed of the first vehicle relative to the track, a distance the first vehicle has traveled on the track, forces on a drawbar of the first vehicle, a set of global positioning system coordinates for the first vehicle, and a set of orthogonal accelerations experienced by the first vehicle;
• f) determining a plurality of calculated parameters to dynamically model the behavior of each vehicle based on any one or more of the track parameters, the vehicle parameters, the train manifest, the plurality of physical characteristics, and the plurality of operating characteristics;
• g) identifying a vehicle with the highest statistical probability for a derailment under the track parameters for portions of the track currently being traveled;
• h) determining if the highest statistical probability exceeds a minimum acceptable probability;
• and
• i) if the highest statistical probability exceeds a minimum acceptable probability, determining a recommended course of action, including an optimized control strategy, to reduce the probability of derailment.