초록

A method for improving train performance, the method including determining a rail car parameter for at least one rail car to be included in a train, and creating a train trip plan based on the rail car parameter in accordance with one or more operational criteria for the train.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method comprising: determining a parameter for at least one non-locomotive car to be included in a train, the parameter including at least one of an axial load of the non-locomotive car other than a total weight of the non-locomotive car; andcreating a train trip plan, by one or more processors

1. A method comprising: determining a parameter for at least one non-locomotive car to be included in a train, the parameter including at least one of an axial load of the non-locomotive car other than a total weight of the non-locomotive car; andcreating a train trip plan, by one or more processors in operative communication with the train, based on the parameter in accordance with at least one operational criteria for the train. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the parameter for the non-locomotive car also includes at least one of the total weight, a friction, or a wind resistance of the non-locomotive car. 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining, by the one or more processors, a location for the non-locomotive car within the train based on the parameter. 4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising controlling, by the one or more processors, at least one of speed versus fuel consumption of the train or emission output of the train based on the parameter. 5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising communicating the parameter to a remote central database. 6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising protecting communication of the parameter with the remote central database. 7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining, by the one or more processors, whether a change in the axial load of the non-locomotive car is caused by at least one of liquid displacement within the non-locomotive car or shifting cargo on the non-locomotive car. 8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising reducing yard setup time of the train based on the parameter. 9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining, by the one or more processors, a load characterization of the non-locomotive car in the train based on at least one of weight, resistance, or curve performance. 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the train is a distributed power train and the method further comprises controlling operating performance of the distributed power train based on the parameter for the non-locomotive car. 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the non-locomotive car is a first non-locomotive car of a plurality of non-locomotive cars, and further comprising arranging the non-locomotive cars in the train based on the parameter for the first non-locomotive car. 12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising operating the train, by the one or more processors, based on the train trip plan that is created. 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining the parameter further comprises determining the parameter for the non-locomotive car by traversing a predetermined track portion. 14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining data, by the one or more processors, for the non-locomotive car by reading information contained on an identification tag attached to the non-locomotive car. 15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the axial load is a vertical axial load. 16. A non-transitory computer readable medium for use in a processor, the non-transitory computer readable medium comprising one or more computer software modules that direct the processor to: determine a parameter of at least one non-locomotive car of the train, the parameter including at least one of an axial load of the non-locomotive car other than a total weight of the non-locomotive car; andcreate a train trip plan based on the parameter for the non-locomotive car in accordance with at least one operational criteria for the train. 17. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 16, wherein the parameter for the non-locomotive car includes at least one of the total weight, a friction, or a wind resistance of the non-locomotive car. 18. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 16, wherein the one or more computer software modules direct the processor to determine a location of the non-locomotive car within the train based on the parameter. 19. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 16, wherein the one or more computer software modules direct the processor to control at least one of speed versus fuel consumption of the train or emission output of the train based on the parameter for the non-locomotive car. 20. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 16, wherein the one or more computer software modules direct the processor to communicate the parameter for the non-locomotive car to a remote central database. 21. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 20, wherein the one or more computer software modules direct the processor to protect communication with the remote central database. 22. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 17, wherein the one or more computer software modules direct the processor to determine whether a change in the axial load of the non-locomotive car is caused by at least one of liquid displacement within the non-locomotive car or shifting fixed cargo on the non-locomotive car. 23. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 16, wherein the one or more computer software modules direct the processor to determine a load characterization of the non-locomotive car in the train based on at least one of weight, resistance, or curve performance. 24. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 16, wherein the train is a distributed power train and the one or more computer software modules direct the processor to control operating performance of the distributed power train based on the parameter of the non-locomotive car. 25. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 16, wherein the non-locomotive car is a first non-locomotive car of a plurality of non-locomotive cars in the train, and wherein the one or more computer software modules direct the processor to determine an order of the non-locomotive cars in the train based on the parameter of the non-locomotive car. 26. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 16, wherein the one or more computer software modules direct the processor to operate the train based on the train trip plan created. 27. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 16, wherein the one or more computer software modules direct the processor to determine data associated with the non-locomotive car by reading information contained on an identification tag attached to the non-locomotive car. 28. The computer software code according to claim 16, wherein the axial load is a lateral axial load. 29. A system comprising: a parameter measurement system for measuring at least one parameter associated with a first non-locomotive car of a plurality of non-locomotive cars of a train, the parameter including at least-one of an axial load of the first non-locomotive car other than a total weight of the first non-locomotive car; anda controller configured to communicate with the parameter measurement system using a communication network;wherein the parameter measurement system is configured to provide the parameter of the non-locomotive car to the controller and the controller is configured to determine at least one of a train make up profile for the plurality of non-locomotive cars in the train or a trip plan for a train mission based on the parameter. 30. The system according to claim 29, wherein the parameter measurement system further comprises at least one of an on-board sensor or an off-board sensor to determine the parameter for the first non-locomotive car. 31. The system according to claim 30, wherein the at least one of the on-board sensor or the off-board sensor is configured to determine at least one of the total weight, a friction, or a wind resistance of the first non-locomotive car. 32. The system according to claim 29, further comprising at least one of a remote database or a portable data collection unit configured to receive the parameter from the parameter measurement system. 33. The system according to claim 32, wherein at least two of the parameter measurement system, the controller, the remote database, the portable data collection unit, a wayside device, an off-board sensor, a locomotive, or the non-locomotive car communicate using the communication network. 34. The system according to claim 32, wherein the communication network is a protected communication network. 35. The system according to claim 29, wherein the controller comprises a processor. 36. The system according to claim 32, wherein the remote database comprises a plurality of the parameters measured for a plurality of rail cars of the rain. 37. The system according to claim 29, further comprising: an identification marker configured to be attached to the non-locomotive car; and an identification marker reader configured to be located proximate a track traversable by the non-locomotive car for collecting information from the marker;wherein the controller is configured to communicate with the identification marker reader and to use the information obtained from the marker to determine one or more characteristics of the non-locomotive car. 38. The system according to claim 37, wherein the information associated with the identification marker is provided to a trip optimizer for use in determining a trip plan. 39. The system according to claim 29, wherein the axial load is at least one of a vertical axial load or a lateral axial load.