Abstract:
A remote control system ( 10 ) for a locomotive ( 16 ) includes a sensor (e.g.  15 ) on-board the locomotive for providing locomotive information. The system also includes a transmitter ( 13 ) for transmitting the locomotive information from the locomotive to an operator control unit (OCU) ( 12 ) off-board the locomotive. A graphical display ( 24 ) is associated with the OCU for displaying the locomotive information in a graphical format to an operator of the OCU. A locomotive control unit (LCU) ( 14 ) in communication with the OCU is operable to control the locomotive in response to a manipulation of the OCU by the operator.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/528,016 filed on Dec. 9, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to the field of remote control of locomotives, and in particular, to display of information on a remote radio transmitting device.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     It is known to remotely control locomotives in a switchyard using remote radio transmitting devices controlled by rail yard personnel. Modern remote control systems allow yard operators to control driverless, microprocessor-equipped switching locomotives controlled by an on-board Locomotive Control Unit (LCU) using a battery-powered portable Operator Control Unit (OCU) to be carried by an operator located adjacent to but off-board of the locomotive to be controlled. Two-way wireless communication is established between the OCU and the LCU. The operator controls the movement of the locomotive, while locomotive operating data and warnings are returned from the locomotive to the OCU. Locomotive data, such as speed and brake system pressure, and warnings are displayed to the operator via a two-line text message display included in the OCU. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]     The sole FIGURE is a schematic representation of an improved locomotive remote control system providing enhanced integration into a rail yard environment.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     Prior art locomotive remote control systems have functioned as isolated devices that allowed an operator to control a locomotive remotely but that provided no information to the operator regarding the environment in which the locomotive was operating. The present invention expands the capabilities of a locomotive remote control system to improve the operator&#39;s ability to function in the context of a rail yard. Productivity and safety of remote locomotive control operations may be enhanced by adding new data processing, communication, and user interface capabilities, as described below.  
         [0006]     An improved locomotive remote control system  10  is illustrated in the FIGURE as including an Operator Control Unit (OCU)  12  having a processor  30  and an OCU transmitter  21  in wireless communication with a locomotive transmitter  13  and Locomotive Control Unit (LCU)  14  on-board a remotely controlled locomotive  16 . The wireless link may further include communications with wayside equipment  18  and/or with centralized control center  20 . The OCU  12  includes various control levers, buttons, switches, and LED indicators  22  as may be known in the art. In addition, the OCU  12  includes a graphical display panel  24  for displaying information in a variety of formats to the operator. In contrast to the simple alphanumeric display used in the past, the graphical display panel  24  may be a CRT, LED, LCD, or plasma display or other graphical display component known now in the art or developed in the future, for example, of the type commonly used today on PDA devices. In an embodiment, the graphical display may be configured as a multifunction GUI. The display panel  24  may be an output device only, or it may be an input/output device such as a touch screen. The display panel  24  may replace or supplement the two-line alphanumeric display known in prior art operator control units.  
         [0007]     Information representative of the layout and equipment of a track system in the rail yard is stored in a track database, for example in the control center  20  or locally, such as in a memory of the OCU  12 . In one embodiment, a map of a switchyard in which the locomotive  16  is operating may be provided showing the location of one or more locomotives  16  relative to features of the rail line and/or other vehicles on the within the yard. Location information may be obtained by a GPS unit  15  on the locomotive  16 , by using wayside sensors detecting each of a plurality of locomotives having unique identifiers, or by using transponders  19  transmitting location information to the locomotive  16 . For example, transponders, such as AEI tags, positioned at known locations along a track wayside may be read by the locomotive  16  to provide location information to the locomotive  16  as the locomotive  16  passes the tag. The location information is transmitted to the OCU  12  from the locomotive  16 , from wayside equipment  18 , or from a control center  20 . Regions of the switchyard wherein special operating constraints are established, such as reduced speed limit zones, may be highlighted on the display panel  24 , such as by being displayed in a different color or with a flashing indicator. Warnings may similarly be highlighted on the display panel  24  by color, flashing indications or brightness variations, etc.  
         [0008]     In another aspect, a plurality of OCU remotely controlled locomotives  16  operating in the railyard may each be assigned a unique identifier for receiving control instructions from a respective OCU  12 . The location or each locomotive  16  in the railyard may be tracked, for example, by the control center  20 . Each OCU  12  may be configured for addressing and communicating with a selected one of the locomotives having a certain unique identifier for controlling movement of the respective locomotive  16 . The OCU  12  may display displaying information relating to the position of the locomotive  16  being controlled and may also display information relating to the respective positions of other locomotives  16  in the railyard not being controlled by that OCU  12 .  
         [0009]     In another embodiment, the display panel  24  may be used to display images observed by an imaging device, such as one or more cameras  26  located on the locomotive  16  or at another location associated with the rail line  28 . To economize the use of available wireless bandwidth, the image communication transmitted to the OCU may be single frame information, or live image scenes may be transmitted only upon the request of the operator. A video processing system  25  associated with the camera(s)  26  may automatically sense an obstruction  27  on the rail  28  in the path of the locomotive  26  and may provide a warning to the operator. The video representation of the obstruction may interrupt certain other information being displayed on the display panel  24  or the operator may be prompted by the warning to request the display of video information. Other embodiments may utilize other types of sensors on the locomotive, such as sonar, ultrasonic, radar, IR, laser sensors, for example, and the images displayed on the display panel  24  may be actual images developed from these sensors and/or graphical representations of the information developed from such sensors. The imaging device  26  may be remotely controlled by instructions transmitted from the OCU  12 . For example, at least one of the various control levers, buttons, and switches  22  may be configured to control the imaging device  26  based on positioning of appropriate control lever, button, and/or switch  22  by an operator. The images acquired by the imaging device  26  may also be transmitted to a display at the control center  20  and control signals to control the operation of the imaging device may be sent from the control center  20  to the imaging device  26  at the locomotive  16 .  
         [0010]     The movement of cars in a switchyard is a highly sophisticated and controlled process. Typically, a remote control locomotive operator will be given a hard copy (paper) of a switch list (work order) itemizing a desired configuration for a train to be assembled in the rail yard. The switch list details intended movements for the locomotive  16  within the rail yard. The operator follows the instructions on the switch list, and then reports back to a control center  20  via radio or in person upon completion of the movements itemized on the switch list. Physically moving to a location to receive the switch list may take a significant amount of time depending upon the location of the operator within the yard. Furthermore, paper switch lists are difficult to hold while operating an OCU  12 , and they often are dropped or damaged by weather. In a further embodiment of the present invention, such work orders are stored in a database, such as a database  23  located in the control center  20 , and are displayed to the operator via the display  24  on the OCU  12 . Communication of the switch list to the operator is time-efficient and it eliminates the problems associated with a hard copy of the switch list. The operator may also communicate completion of the movements defined in the switch list back to the control center  20  via the OCU wireless link, such as by operating one of the various control levers, buttons, and switches  22  configured to transmit this information. Furthermore, deviations from the switch list may be communicated rapidly to the control center  20 , such as when a defective railcar is discovered and is intentionally left out of a train.  
         [0011]     Malfunctions of the locomotive  16  may be communicated to the OCU  12  and health status information for the locomotive  16  may be displayed to the operator via the display panel  24 . Sensors  17  on-board the locomotive  16  monitor parameters indicative of the health of the locomotive  16 . Such information is transmitted via the LCU  14  to the OCU  12  for display to the operator. A processor receives the health information and generates locomotive operational recommendations for display on the OCU  12 . The health information may also be processed in the locomotive  16  or the control center  20  to generate operational recommendations for transmission to and display on the OCU  12 . The information displayed may include a fault message, and it may further include instructions to the operator for repairing/overcoming the malfunction. A series of repair actions may be associated with each possible fault code, such as in a database stored in the control center  20 , the OCU  12  or on-board the locomotive  16 . When a malfunction occurs, the operator is guided through the repair actions via instructions displayed on the OCU  12 . The instructions may include text, graphical and/or pictorial information, for example. The operator may acknowledge actions and/or provide other types of feedback via the display panel  24  or via other means to further the diagnostic process. A fault tree sequence is thus accomplished with the purpose of correcting the malfunction. Alternatively, the operator may receive operational recommendations instructing the operator to take the locomotive out of service, and/or to move the locomotive to a siding or service facility to more effectively make the repairs and not to impede the operation of the railyard. The operating parameters and/or service and operational recommendation may also be transmitted to a display at the control tower for supervisory review.  
         [0012]     The response to certain emergency situations involving remotely controlled locomotives are known to include a timed countdown prior to the implementation of an action. The display panel  24  may be used to display such countdowns, either numerically or with a graphical representation, to provide the operator with enhanced knowledge of a pending automatic emergency action.  
         [0013]     While various embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes and substitutions will occur to those of skill in the art without departing from the invention herein.