Vehicle communication system
A communication system and method for communicatively linking vehicles in a vehicle consist determine a vehicle identifier for a first remote vehicle included in a vehicle consist formed from a lead vehicle and at least the first remote vehicle. The system and method communicate a wireless linking message addressed to the vehicle identifier from the lead vehicle to the first remote vehicle, and establish a communication link between the lead vehicle and the first remote vehicle responsive to receipt of the wireless linking message at the first remote vehicle. The communication link is established such that movement of the first remote vehicle is remotely controlled from the lead vehicle via the communication link. The communication link is established without an operator entering the first remote vehicle.
1. A system comprising:
a control unit configured to determine a vehicle identifier for a first remote vehicle included in a vehicle consist formed from a lead vehicle and at least the first remote vehicle;
a communication unit configured to communicate a wireless linking message addressed to the vehicle identifier from the lead vehicle to the first remote vehicle, the communication unit also configured to establish a communication link between the lead vehicle and the first remote vehicle responsive to receipt of the wireless linking message at the first remote vehicle, wherein the control unit is configured to remotely control movement of the first remote vehicle from the lead vehicle via the communication link, and wherein the communication link is established without an operator entering the first remote vehicle; and
wherein the control unit is configured to determine the vehicle identifier by receiving a list of one or more unique identifying codes associated with at least the first remote vehicle from an energy management system that creates a trip plan to control movement of the vehicle consist, the trip plan designating operational settings of the vehicle consist as a function of one or more of time, location, or distance along a route.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the first remote vehicle or the lead vehicle is one or more of an automobile or a truck.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the first remote vehicle or the lead vehicle is an aerial drone.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the communication unit is configured to receive a wireless linking confirmation message from the first remote vehicle at the lead vehicle responsive to the wireless linking message being received at the first remote vehicle.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to determine the vehicle identifier by receiving a list of one or more unique identifying codes associated with at least the first remote vehicle from a vehicle control system that restricts movement of the vehicle consist based at least in part on a location of the vehicle consist.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the vehicle control system includes a positive train control system.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle consist includes the lead vehicle, the first remote vehicle, and at least a second remote vehicle, and wherein the control unit is configured to determine the vehicle identifier by determining a first unique vehicle identifier for the first remote vehicle and at least a second unique vehicle identifier for at least the second remote vehicle, the communication unit configured to communicate the wireless linking message by communicating a first wireless linking message to the first remote vehicle and communicating at least a second wireless linking message to at least the second remote vehicle, and
wherein the communication unit is configured to establish the communication link by establishing a first communication link between the lead vehicle and the first remote vehicle and at least a second communication link between the lead vehicle and at least the second remote vehicle.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the control unit is configured to detect a single instance of an operator actuating an input device onboard the lead vehicle and the communication unit is configured to communicate the first wireless linking message and the at least the second wireless linking message responsive to the control unit detecting the single instance of the operator actuating the input device.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the communication unit is configured to communicate the wireless linking message by broadcasting the wireless linking message such that the first remote vehicle receives the wireless linking message and at least one other remote vehicle that is located within a wireless communication range of the communication unit but that is not included in the vehicle consist receives the wireless linking message, and wherein the communication unit is configured to prevent the at least one other remote vehicle from establishing a communication link with the lead vehicle based at least in part on the vehicle identifier.