Methods and systems for automated yard classification

Abstract

In one instance, disclosed herein is a method for automating a train car classification process, including: receiving information indicating at least one train car within a classification yard and a classification track within the classification yard; generating, based at least in part on the at least one train car and the classification track, at least one classification control command for a classification locomotive within the classification yard; and providing the at least one classification control command to the classification locomotive for execution, wherein execution of the at least one classification control command by the classification locomotive causes the classification locomotive to move the at least one train car to the classification track.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for automating a train car classification process, the method comprising:
 receiving information indicating at least one train car within a classification yard and a classification track within the classification yard;   generating, based at least in part on the at least one train car and the classification track, at least one classification control command for a classification locomotive within the classification yard; and   providing the at least one classification control command to the classification locomotive for execution, wherein execution of the at least one classification control command by the classification locomotive causes the classification locomotive to move the at least one train car to the classification track.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving the information indicating the at least one train car and the classification track within a switch list from a yard planning system. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the switch list specifies a destination of the at least one train car and further comprising determining, based on the destination of the at least one train car, the classification track within the classification yard. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the switch list specifies the classification track. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one classification control command is further generated based at least in part on a classification track configuration of the classification yard. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one classification control command includes a throttle command and a brake command. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one classification control command specifies a required runway length. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising prompting the classification locomotive to execute the at least one classification control command. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising receiving an approval command to execute the at least one classification control command and prompting the classification locomotive to execute the at least one classification control command in response to receiving the approval command. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the approval command is generated in response to a selection within a graphical user interface provided by an automated classification application. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the at least one classification control command further comprises determining an amount of momentum required to move the at least one train car to the classification track. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising determining train car characteristics for the at least one train car and wherein the amount of momentum required to move the at least one train car to the classification track is determined based on the train car characteristics. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the information indicating the at least one train car includes the train car characteristics. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the information indicating the at least one train car includes a unique identifier for the at least one train car and further comprising retrieving the train car characteristics from a database of train car characteristics using the unique identifier. 
     
     
         15 . A controller communicatively coupled to a locomotive and operative to:
 receive information indicating at least one train car within a classification yard and a classification track within the classification yard;   generate, based at least in part on the at least one train car and the classification track, at least one classification control command for a classification locomotive within the classification yard; and   prompt the locomotive to execute the at least one classification control command, wherein execution of the at least one classification control command by the locomotive moves the at least one train car to the classification track.   
     
     
         16 . The controller of  claim 15 , further operative to receive the information indicating the at least one train car and the classification track within a switch list from a yard planning system. 
     
     
         17 . The controller of  claim 15 , further operative to generate the at least one classification control command by determining an amount of momentum required to move the at least one train car to the classification track. 
     
     
         18 . The controller of  claim 17 , further operative to determine train car characteristics for the at least one train car and determine the amount of momentum required to move the at least one train car to the classification track based on the train car characteristics. 
     
     
         19 . The controller of  claim 18 , wherein the information indicating the at least one train car includes the train car characteristics. 
     
     
         20 . A system for automating a train car classification process, the system comprising:
 an automated classification application executed on a computing device and operative to provide a graphical user interface within a display operatively coupled to the computing device; and   a controller communicatively coupled to a locomotive and operative to:
 receive information indicating at least one train car within a classification yard and a classification track within the classification yard; 
 generate, based at least in part on the at least one train car and the classification track, at least one classification control command for the locomotive; and 
 in response to receiving an approval command generated in response to a selection made within the graphical user interface of the automated classification application, prompt the locomotive to execute the at least one classification control command, wherein execution of the at least one classification control command by the locomotive moves the at least one train car to the classification track.