Patent ID: 8655519

Claim:
A system for controlling a rail vehicle consist configured to traverse a rail system, comprising: a second module comprising one or more processors and one or more memories, the second module configured to receive environmental data from a first module having one or more sensors, wherein the environmental data is indicative of one or more environmental conditions for a portion of the rail system; wherein: the second module is further configured to conduct an assessment of the environmental data in relation to a first control parameter, the first control parameter corresponding to a predetermined worst case environmental condition, the assessment comprising a determination if the one or more environmental conditions received from the first module correspond to the predetermined worst case environmental condition; the second module is further configured to communicate one or more control signals of one of the first control parameter or a different, second control parameter based on the assessment; each of the first and second control parameters relates to controlling tractive effort of the rail vehicle consist over the portion of the rail system; and the second module is further configured to communicate the one or more control signals to a third module for control of the rail vehicle consist; and the first control parameter comprises first data of a first braking curve; the second control parameter comprises second data of a second braking curve that is less restrictive than the first braking curve.