Patent Document ID: 9002548
Application ID: 13529074
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A system comprising: a controller configured to be positioned within a powered vehicle of a powered system that includes a train having a coupler between adjacent cars of the powered system, the coupler configured to be positioned in a slack state that includes one of a stretched slack state or a bunched slack state based on separation of the adjacent cars, the controller also configured to determine a mismatch of a model of the slack state for the coupler of the powered system and a current, actual slack state of the coupler on a real time basis from a plurality of input parameters including at least one of a powered vehicle parameter, a track parameter, a train parameter, or a train stability state, the controller further configured to determine a corrective action that reduces the mismatch between the model of the slack state and the current, actual slack state of the coupler, wherein the train travels on a rail along a predetermined route, and the controller is configured to switch from a manual mode in which a powered vehicle operator is configured to manually input the corrective action to an automatic mode in which the controller is configured to automatically implement the corrective action for a predetermined amount of time.