Methods and systems for speed management within a transportation network
A method includes operating a vehicle traveling in a transportation network with a throttle of the vehicle at a maximum throttle setting during a trip of the vehicle along a route from a first location to a different, second location. The method also includes applying a dynamic brake of the vehicle at a maximum brake setting of the dynamic brake, and alternating between operating the vehicle with the throttle at the maximum throttle setting and applying the dynamic brake of the vehicle at the maximum brake setting along a route being traveled by the vehicle from the first location to the second location.
1. A method comprising:
operating a rail vehicle traveling in a transportation network with a throttle of the vehicle at a maximum throttle setting during a trip of the vehicle along a route from a first location to a different, second location, the vehicle operated by a controller to control one or more of, generating a first control signal that causes a propulsion subsystem of the vehicle to automatically implement the maximum throttle setting of the vehicle or that instructs an operator of the vehicle to manually implement the maximum throttle setting of the vehicle;
applying a dynamic brake of the vehicle at a maximum brake setting of the dynamic brake with the throttle at the maximum throttle setting immediately before applying the dynamic brake at the maximum brake setting, the dynamic brake of the vehicle operated by the controller to control one or more of, generating a second control signal that causes the dynamic brake to automatically implement the maximum brake setting, or that instructs the operator of the vehicle to manually implement the maximum brake setting; and
alternating between operating the vehicle with the throttle at the maximum throttle setting and applying the dynamic brake of the vehicle at the maximum brake setting with the throttle at the maximum throttle setting immediately before applying the dynamic brake at the maximum brake setting along the route being traveled by the vehicle from the first location to the second location by the controller to control one or more of, generating the first control signal to cause the propulsion system to automatically implement the maximum throttle setting, or to instruct the operator to manually implement the maximum throttle setting, and to control one or more of, generating the second control signal to cause the dynamic brake to automatically implement the maximum brake setting, or to instruct the operator to manually implement the maximum brake setting.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein alternating between operating the vehicle with the throttle at the maximum throttle setting and applying the dynamic brake of the vehicle at the maximum brake setting comprises holding a speed of the vehicle at or below a designated speed value in one or more locations along the route of the vehicle.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein alternating between operating the vehicle with the throttle at the maximum throttle setting and applying the dynamic brake of the vehicle at the maximum brake setting comprises reducing a travel time of the trip of the vehicle within the transportation network relative to operating the vehicle at one or more other throttle settings.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the dynamic brake comprises calculating, using the controller, the maximum brake setting based on at least one of a current speed of the vehicle, at least one of route data or geography data, or a designated safe braking limit of the vehicle.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the maximum throttle setting corresponds to a designated safe operating limit of the vehicle, and wherein applying the dynamic brake of the vehicle at the maximum brake setting comprises applying the dynamic brake responsive to a change in the designated safe operating limit of the vehicle along one or more locations along the route being traveled by the vehicle.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein alternating between operating the vehicle with the throttle at the maximum throttle setting and applying the dynamic brake of the vehicle at the maximum brake setting comprises alternating between operating the vehicle with the throttle at the maximum throttle setting and applying the dynamic brake of the vehicle at the maximum brake setting using a vehicle control unit located onboard the vehicle.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the maximum throttle setting of the throttle is a lower setting of the throttle than a highest possible setting of the throttle, the maximum throttle setting of the throttle corresponding to a designated safe operating limit of the vehicle.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the maximum brake setting of the dynamic brake is a lower setting of the dynamic brake than a highest possible setting of the dynamic brake, the maximum brake setting of the dynamic brake corresponding to a designated safe braking limit of the vehicle.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein alternating between operating the vehicle with the throttle at the maximum throttle setting and applying the dynamic brake of the vehicle at the maximum brake setting comprises overriding a trip plan of the vehicle that designates operational settings of the vehicle as a function of at least one of distance or time along the trip of the vehicle within the transportation network, the operational settings of the trip plan being other than the alternating between operating the vehicle with the throttle at the maximum throttle setting and applying the dynamic brake of the vehicle at the maximum brake setting.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
operating the vehicle with the throttle at the maximum throttle setting comprises automatically operating the vehicle with the throttle at the maximum throttle setting using the controller located onboard the vehicle; or
applying the dynamic brake of the vehicle at the maximum brake setting comprises automatically applying the dynamic brake of the vehicle using the controller located onboard the vehicle.
11. A method comprising:
generating one or more alternating throttle and dynamic brake instructions for a rail vehicle configured to travel in a transportation network to alternate between operating the vehicle with a throttle of the vehicle at a maximum throttle setting and applying a dynamic brake of the vehicle at a maximum brake setting of the dynamic brake with the throttle at the maximum throttle setting immediately before applying the dynamic brake at the maximum brake setting along a route being traveled by the vehicle, the one or more alternating throttle and dynamic brake instructions, generated by a controller to control one or more of:
automatically control a propulsion subsystem of the vehicle to operate using the maximum throttle setting and automatically control the dynamic brake to operate using the maximum brake setting, or
instruct an operator of the vehicle to manually control the propulsion subsystem to operate using the maximum throttle setting and manually control the dynamic brake to operate using the maximum brake setting; and
at least one of creating or revising a trip plan of a trip of the vehicle within the transportation network such that the trip plan includes the one or more alternating throttle and dynamic brake instructions for at least one segment of the trip, the trip plan designating operational settings of the vehicle as a function of at least one of distance or time along the trip of the vehicle.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein generating the one or more alternating throttle and dynamic brake instructions comprises generating the one or more alternating throttle and dynamic brake instructions to hold a speed of the vehicle at or below a designated speed value in one or more locations along the route of the vehicle.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein at least one of creating or revising the trip plan comprises revising the trip plan to include the one or more alternating throttle and dynamic brake instructions responsive to the vehicle falling behind a schedule of the trip.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein at least one of creating or revising the trip plan comprises creating the trip plan such that the trip plan includes the one or more alternating throttle and dynamic brake instructions based on at least one of a speed limit difference between different regions within the transportation network, a weather forecast for a region within the transportation network, or a schedule of another vehicle traveling within the transportation network.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein at least one of creating or revising the trip plan comprises reducing a travel time of the vehicle along the trip relative to operating the vehicle at one or more other throttle settings and one or more other brake settings.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein at least one of creating or revising the trip plan comprises at least one of creating or revising the trip plan such that the vehicle arrives at a waypoint within the transportation network before the arrival of another vehicle at the waypoint.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein at least one of creating or revising the trip plan comprises at least one of creating or revising the trip plan responsive to at least one of a change in weather, a change in a weather forecast, a change in a schedule of the vehicle, a change in a schedule of another vehicle traveling within the transportation network, a change in a traffic condition within the transportation network, failure of a component onboard the vehicle, or a traffic accident within the transportation network.
18. The method of claim 11 , wherein generating the one or more alternating throttle and dynamic brake instructions comprises automatically generating the one or more alternating throttle and dynamic brake instructions onboard the vehicle or at a remote location from the vehicle.
19. The method of claim 11 , wherein at least one of creating or revising the trip plan comprises at least one of creating or revising the trip plan automatically onboard the vehicle or at a remote location from the vehicle.
20. A system comprising:
a controller configured to control operation of a rail vehicle that is configured to travel in a transportation network, the control unit being configured to:
operate the vehicle with a throttle of the vehicle at a maximum throttle setting during a trip of the vehicle along a route from a first location to a different, second location, the controller configured to operate the vehicle by generating a first control signal that one or more of, automatically controls a propulsion subsystem of the vehicle using the maximum throttle setting, or instructs an operator to manually control the propulsion subsystem using the maximum throttle setting;
apply a dynamic brake of the vehicle at a maximum brake setting of the dynamic brake with the throttle at the maximum throttle setting immediately before applying the dynamic brake at the maximum brake setting, the controller configured to apply the dynamic brake by generating a second control signal that one or more of automatically applies the dynamic brake at the maximum brake setting, or instructs the operator to apply the dynamic brake at the maximum brake setting; and
alternate between operating the vehicle with the throttle at the maximum throttle setting by generating the first control signal and applying the dynamic brake of the vehicle at the maximum brake setting by generating the second control signal along the route being traveled by the vehicle from the first location to the second location.