On Demand Autonomous Rail Transport

Abstract

In an embodiment, a method (and system) includes dispatching and routing, by a dispatch and routing controller, and responsive to a received user request, a highly-automated trainset. The highly-automated trainset has one or more cars attached to a highly-automated locomotive. The method (and system) dispatches the highly-automated locomotive from a first location to a second location over a train track. The method (and system) provides, at the second location, a notification indicating readiness for loading of cargo onto the one or more cars. The method (and system) loads at least one of the one or more cars with the cargo at the second location. Further responsive to the received user request, the method (and system) dispatches and routes, by the dispatch and routing controller, the highly-automated trainset from the second location to a third location over the train track.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 responsive to a received user request associated with cargo, dispatching and routing, by a dispatch and routing controller, a highly-automated trainset having one or more cars attached to a highly-automated locomotive from a first location to a second location over a train track;   providing, at the second location, a notification indicating readiness for loading of cargo onto the one or more cars;   enabling loading of at least one of the one or more cars with the cargo at the second location; and   further responsive to the received user request, dispatching and routing, by the dispatch and routing controller, the highly-automated trainset from the second location to a third location over the train track.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 coordinating transfer of at least a portion of the cargo or at least one car of the one or more cars between the highly-automated locomotive and another locomotive.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first location is an initial location along the train track, the second location is a pickup location along the train track, and the third location is a rail delivery location along the train track. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more cars include any of a freight car or a passenger car. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the routing is further based upon one or more other locomotives. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the routing is based upon one or more of the following characteristics:
 a current utilization or capacity of the train track;   using a portion of the train track that is less utilized than another portion of the train track;   avoidance of traffic congestion;   a weight of the one or more cars;   a volume of the one or more cars;   a weight of the cargo;   a volume of the cargo;   a destination of the cargo;   a location of the cargo;   a transit time;   an arrival time;   a scheduled departure time; and   a capability of the highly-automated locomotive including any of power, speed, braking range, and sensing range.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the routing is further based upon at least one of the characteristics as associated with one or more other locomotives. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 coordinating transfer of the cargo from the third location to a fourth location.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the fourth location is a destination location indicated by the received user request. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory with computer code instructions stored therein, the memory operatively coupled to said processor such that the computer code instructions configure the processor to implement:   a dispatch and routing controller configured to:   dispatch and route, responsive to a received user request associated with cargo, by the dispatch and routing controller, a highly-automated trainset having one or more cars attached to a highly-automated locomotive from a first location to a second location over a train track;   provide, at the second location, a notification indicating readiness for loading of cargo onto the one or more cars;   enable loading of at least one of the one or more cars with the cargo at the second location; and   dispatch and route, further responsive to the received user request, by the dispatch and routing controller, the highly-automated trainset from the second location to a third location over the train track.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the dispatch and routing controller is further configured to coordinate transfer of at least a portion of the cargo or at least one car of the one or more cars between the highly-automated locomotive and another locomotive. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first location is an initial location along the train track, the second location is a pickup location along the train track, and the third location is a rail delivery location along the train track. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more cars include any of a freight car or a passenger car. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the dispatch and routing controller is further configured to route based upon one or more other locomotives. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the dispatch and routing controller is further configured to route based upon one or more of the following characteristics:
 a current utilization or capacity of the train track;   using a portion of the train track that is less utilized than another portion of the train track;   avoidance of traffic congestion;   a weight of the one or more cars;   a volume of the one or more cars;   a weight of the cargo;   a volume of the cargo;   a destination of the cargo;   a location of the cargo;   a transit time;   an arrival time;   a scheduled departure time; and   a capability of the highly-automated locomotive including any of power, speed, braking range, and sensing range.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the dispatch and routing controller is further configured to route based upon at least one of the characteristics as associated with one or more other locomotives. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the dispatch and routing controller is further configured to coordinate transfer of the cargo from the third location to a fourth location. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the fourth location is a destination location indicated by the received user request. 
     
     
         19 . A computer program product comprising:
 a non-transitory computer-readable medium configured to store instructions for transporting one or more cars via a highly-automated locomotive, the instructions, when loaded and executed by a processor, cause the processor to:   dispatch and route, responsive to a received user request associated with cargo, by a dispatch and routing controller, a highly-automated trainset having the one or more cars attached to the highly-automated locomotive from a first location to a second location over a train track;   provide, at the second location, a notification indicating readiness for loading of cargo onto the one or more cars;   enable loading of at least one of the one or more cars with the cargo at the second location; and   dispatch and route, further responsive to the received user request, by the dispatch and routing controller, the highly-automated trainset from the second location to a third location over the train track.   
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , wherein the processor is further configured to coordinate transfer of at least a portion of the cargo or at least one car of the one or more cars between the highly-automated locomotive and another locomotive.