System and/or method for remote operation of a rail vehicle

Abstract

The method S100 can include: determining a remote operation request S110; optionally determining a priority of the remote operation request S120; providing vehicle data to a remote operator S130; responding to the remote operation request S140; and optionally training a model based on the response S150. However, the method S100 can additionally or alternatively include any other suitable elements. The method S100 functions to facilitate remote assistance of a vehicle operating within a rail network (e.g., operation of unmanned vehicles within restricted track regions). Additionally or alternatively, the system can function to facilitate remote validation/verification of vehicle operations and/or rail infrastructure status.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 determining a motion plan for a rail vehicle;   queuing the remote operation request at a teleoperation platform based on the motion plan;   responding to the queued remote operation request, comprising:
 providing vehicle data from the rail vehicle to the remote operator via the teleoperation platform; and 
 based on inputs from the remote operator, determining a track reservation for the rail vehicle; and 
   controlling the rail vehicle based on the track reservation and the motion plan.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: providing the track reservation to the rail vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the rail vehicle is autonomously controlled, based on the motion plan, within the track reservation. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the track reservation comprises an observable portion of a restricted speed region of track. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle data is selectively forwarded from an intermediate application to the teleoperation platform. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the vehicle data comprises a timestamped WebRTC stream. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein responding to the queued remote operation request further comprises: assigning the remote operation request to the remote operator based on a latency of the video stream. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the remote operation request is assigned based on a minimum round-trip latency requirement for Positive Train Control (PTC). 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the inputs from the remote operator are associated with a frame of the WebRTC stream, wherein the track reservation is determined based on the timestamp of the frame. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the track reservation grants proceed authorization for the rail vehicle along an observable portion of the restricted speed track region based on the vehicle data. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the remote operation request is associated with a set of minimum operator qualifications according to track rules, wherein queuing the remote operation request comprises: assigning the remote operator to complete the remote operation request based on the priority and the set of minimum operator qualifications. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the remote operation request comprises: a request for evaluation of a state of a track feature. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the track reservation is associated with a switch. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein responding to the queued remote operation request further comprises: selecting the teleoperation platform based on geographic proximity to the rail vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 determining a motion plan for a rail vehicle;   providing vehicle data from the rail vehicle to the remote operator via a teleoperation platform, comprising selectively forwarding the vehicle data from an intermediate application to the teleoperation platform;   based on inputs from the remote operator, determining a track reservation for the rail vehicle; and   autonomously controlling the rail vehicle based on the track reservation and the motion plan.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the track reservation comprises an observable portion of a restricted speed region of track. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the vehicle data is selectively forwarded from the intermediate application to the teleoperation platform based on a remote operator assignment. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the remote operator assignment is based on a set of minimum operator qualifications and a proximity to the rail vehicle. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the remote operator assignment is based on a minimum round-trip latency requirement for Positive Train Control (PTC). 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the inputs from the remote operator comprise a teleoperator evaluation of a state of a railroad switch, wherein the track reservation is determined based on the state of the railroad switch.