Systems of Methods for Managing Operations of a Classification Yard

The present invention relates generally to classification yard systems, and more particularly to a system for managing operations of a classification yard.

Trains allow us to transport passengers and freight long distances for a relatively inexpensive cost. A typical train may be composed of one or more locomotive engines and one or more train cars being pulled and/or pushed by the one or more engines. The trains are assembled in a classification yard. In typical operations of a classification yard, hundreds or thousands of train cars are moved through marshalling tracks to route each of the train cars to a respectively assigned track, where the train car is coupled to its assigned train. Once the train is fully assembled, the train may leave the classification yard and travel to its destination.

A particular implementation of a classification yard is a hump yard. A hump yard is a type of classification yard that uses gravity to classify train cars into their assigned train. In a hump yard, a rolling stock train that includes the train cars to be classified is pushed up the hump section (e.g., typically an elevated area, which may include and artificial or natural a hill, mount, etc.), where, as the train cars reach the crest of the hump (e.g., the top or apex of the hump) and begin rolling past the crest into the downward release section of the hump, train cars, or group of train cars, are “cut” (e.g., decoupled or separated) from the rolling stock train by gravity and begin rolling downhill away from the crest into the release area, which typically branches out into multiple marshalling tracks (each of which may eventually lead to a destination track). The cuts then coast through the marshalling tracks of the hump yard and are routed to their assigned destination track where each cut is coupled to its assigned destination train.

In a hump yard, controlling the movement of a cut as it travels through the marshalling tracks is exceedingly important. For example, controlling the route of each cut is important to ensure that each cut is routed to the respectively assigned destination train, to avoid potential collisions between the various cuts, and/or to load-balance the use of the marshalling tracks as the cuts are released onto the marshalling tracks. Additionally, controlling the speed of each cut as it travels through the marshalling tracks, and when the cut reaches the coupling point, is very important in order to avoid accidental damage to equipment, train cars, and/or the freight itself. Furthermore, controlling the speed of cuts is also very important to ensure that the cuts maintain enough speed through their route to reach the coupling point, otherwise the cuts may stall within the marshalling tracks without making it to the destination train, which may cause operational problems and potential collisions. Moreover, ensuring that the enough separation between the various cuts is maintained as they travel through the marshalling tracks is important to avoid collisions between cuts.

Current hump yard systems use various mechanisms and/or hardware devices to control the route and/or speed of the various cuts as these various cuts travel through the marshalling tracks of the hump yard. For example, current hump yard systems may include mechanisms to regulate the speed of the hump push engine as it pushes train cars up the hump. In this manner, the speed of the hump push engine may be controlled to control the release speed of a cut. Current hump yard systems may also use hardware devices (e.g., switches that may be configured to route a cut from a source track to a target track, wheel detectors that may be configured to detect the speed and/or arrival time of a cut, retarders that may be configured to remove energy from a cut as passes through the retarders, radar devices that may be configured to detect the presence and/or speed of a cut, distance units that may be configured to detect how far a cut may be from other cuts and/or from other devices and/or points along the route from a current position, etc.) to control the route and/or speed of cuts as they are classified using the hump yard.

However, managing the various aspects of the operations of a classification yard, especially with respect to leveraging the functionality of the various mechanism and hardware devices of current hump yards, is exceedingly challenging. In particular, current systems lack robust functionality to control operations of a hump yard reliably and efficiently.

The present disclosure achieves technical advantages as systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media that provide functionality for managing operations of a classification yard. The present disclosure provides for a system integrated into a practical application with meaningful limitations as a system with functionality for planning, controlling, tracking, and/or reporting the movement of cuts (e.g., train cars) from a hump rolling stock to a respectively assigned destination track/train. In embodiments, the functionality provided by the features described herein may represent an integrated, standardized, configurable, reliable, and efficient control system that may utilize a sustainable and maintainable software/hardware design to support operations of a classification yard.

For example, in particular embodiments, the features described herein provide functionality to determine a release speed of a cut, to determine a target coupling speed of the cut at the coupling point, and/or to control the speed of the cut through the marshalling tracks of the classification yard (e.g., by determining an amount of energy to be removed from the cut as the cut travels through the classification yard) in order to arrive at the coupling point at the target coupling speed. In this manner, the features described herein provide a mechanism to control the speed and route of cuts traveling through the classification yard in order to ensure that the route and speed are acceptable and to avoid potential damage and/or collisions.

In additional or alternative embodiments, the features described herein provide functionality to automatically tune coefficients (e.g., tuning coefficients) that may be used to calculate or predict the movement (e.g., speed and/or arrival time) of a cut through segments or devices of the classification yard. In this manner, the features described herein provide a mechanism to adapt the tuning of the classification yard to changing conditions. For example, in current systems, as real-world conditions of a classification yard change (e.g., a device may degrade or be repaired, a segment of the track may degrade and thus may create more friction with the cuts traveling through it, a section of a track may change its grade, such as by normal sinking, which may cause the grade to increase and thus may cause cuts traveling through it to gain speed due to increases potential energy, weather may change, etc.), the tuning coefficients used to predict the speed and/or arrival times of cuts at various points of a route throughout the marshalling tracks may not be as accurate because of the changed conditions. In these cases, predictions made using the tuning coefficients may not accurately reflect what may happen when the cut travels its route to its destination train. As such, accidents and/or other issues may happen. A system implemented in accordance with the present disclosure may be flexible and responsive to the changing conditions of the classification yard and may automatically tune the tuning coefficients to the changing conditions, which may allow for a system that is more robust than existing systems, which are unable to adapt to changing conditions.

In additional or alternative embodiments, the features described herein provide functionality to monitor, track, and/or control the performance of a hardware device. In embodiments, features described herein may allow a system to generate alert and/or control signals that may be used by field personnel to perform corrective actions on the hardware device or may be used by the system to send automatic control signals to deactivate or adjust a defective or degraded hardware device. The present disclosure solves the technological problem of a lack of functionality in current systems to dynamically monitor, track, and/or control the ability of a hardware device to operate efficiently and effectively to perform operations in a classification yard. For example, in current systems, a bad or degraded hardware device may not be identified until it is too late (e.g., after the hardware device has failed), which may result in catastrophic and/or expensive consequences. A system implemented in accordance with the present disclosure may be flexible and responsive to these situations may identify these bad/defective hardware devices, even when the problem may be masked by control software compensating.

In additional or alternative embodiments, the features described herein provide functionality to visualize and replay event messages in an event log with relation to components of the classification yard on which the events occur. In this manner, the features described herein provide a mechanism to leverage the information in the event logs in an advantageous manner that improves tracking and control systems. By providing functionality to visualize and replay event messages in an event log with relation to components on which the events occur, the functionality of the present disclosure provides a solution to the problems associated with the complexity and size of current event logs in classification yards. For example, after a significant event (e.g., after a derailment, collision, stall event, etc.), understanding what happened prior to the event may help not only explain the cause, but may also help prevent the event from happening again. In these cases, a system implemented in accordance with the present disclosure may be able to not only contextualize the data in the event log by providing the event messages in relation to the components at which the events occurred, but also to visualize the event logs in an improved manner that allows the system to leverage the benefits of the event log.

Thus, it will be appreciated that the technological solutions provided herein, and missing from conventional systems, are more than a mere application of a manual process to a computerized environment, but rather include functionality to implement a technical process to replace or supplement current manual solutions or non-existing solutions for tuning classification yards. In doing so, the present disclosure goes well beyond a mere application the manual process to a computer. Accordingly, the claims herein necessarily provide a technological solution that overcomes a technological problem.

In various embodiments, the system comprises one or more processors interconnected with a memory module, capable of executing machine-readable instructions. These instructions include, but are not limited to, the steps outlined in any flow diagram, system diagram, block diagram, and/or process diagram disclosed herein, as well as steps corresponding to any functionality detailed herein. In embodiments, the execution of these machine-readable instructions may involve initiating multiple concurrent computer processes. Each process of the concurrent computer process may be configured to handle or process a designated subset or portion of the of the machine-readable instructions. This division of tasks enables parallel processing, multi-processing, and/or multi-threading, enabling multiple operations to be conducted or executed concurrently rather than sequentially. This functionality for spawning a plurality of concurrent processes to manage separate portions of the machine-readable instructions markedly increases the overall speed of execution of the machine-readable instructions. By leveraging parallel or concurrent processing, the time required to complete a set or subset of program steps is substantially reduced (e.g., when compared to execution without concurrent or parallel processing). This efficiency gain not only accelerates the processing speed but also optimizes the use of processor resources, leading to an improved performance of the computing system. This enhancement in computational efficiency constitutes a significant technological improvement, as it enhances the functional capabilities of the processors and the system as a whole, representing a practical and tangible technological advancement. The result of this concurrent processing functionality results in an improvement in the functioning of the one or more processor and/or the computing system, and thus, represents a practical application.

In embodiments, the present disclosure includes techniques for training models (e.g., machine-learning models, artificial intelligence models, algorithmic constructs, etc.) for performing or executing a designated task or a series of tasks (e.g., one or more features of steps or tasks of processes, systems, and/or methods disclosed in the present disclosure). The disclosed techniques provide a systematic approach for the training of such models to enhance performance, accuracy, and efficiency in their respective applications. In embodiments, the techniques for training the models may include collecting a set of data from a database, conditioning the set of data to generate a set of conditioned data, and/or generating a set of training data including the collected set of data and/or the conditioned set of data. In embodiments, that model may undergo a training phase wherein the model may be exposed to the set of training data, such as through an iterative processes of learning in which the model adjusts and optimizes its parameters and algorithms to improve its performance on the designated task or series of tasks. This training phase may configure the model to develop the capability to perform its intended function with a high degree of accuracy and efficiency. In embodiments, the conditioning of the set of data may include modification, transformation, and/or the application of targeted algorithms to prepare the data for training. The conditioning step may be configured to ensure that the set of data is in an optimal state for training the model, resulting in an enhancement of the effectiveness of the model's learning process. These features and techniques not only qualify as patent-eligible features but also introduce substantial improvements to the field of computational modeling. These features are not merely theoretical but represent an integration of a concepts into a practical application that significantly enhance the functionality, reliability, and efficiency of the models developed through these processes.

In embodiments, the present disclosure includes techniques for generating a notification of an event that includes generating an alert that includes information specifying the location of a source of data associated with the event, formatting the alert into data structured according to an information format, and/or transmitting the formatted alert over a network to a device associated with a receiver based upon a destination address and a transmission schedule. In embodiments, receiving the alert enables a connection from the device associated with the receiver to the data source over the network when the device is connected to the source to retrieve the data associated with the event and causes a viewer application (e.g., a graphical user interface (GUI)) to be activated to display the data associated with the event. These features represent patent eligible features, as these features amount to significantly more than an abstract idea. These features, when considered as an ordered combination, amount to significantly more than simply organizing and comparing data. The features address the Internet-centric challenge of alerting a receiver with time sensitive information. This is addressed by transmitting the alert over a network to activate the viewer application, which enables the connection of the device of the receiver to the source over the network to retrieve the data associated with the event. These are meaningful limitations that add more than generally linking the use of an abstract idea (e.g., the general concept of organizing and comparing data) to the Internet, because they solve an Internet-centric problem with a solution that is necessarily rooted in computer technology. These features, when taken as an ordered combination, provide unconventional steps that confine the abstract idea to a particular useful application. Therefore, these features represent patent eligible subject matter.

In embodiments, one or more operations and/or functionality of components described herein can be distributed across a plurality of computing systems (e.g., personal computers (PCs), user devices, servers, processors, etc.), such as by implementing the operations over a plurality of computing systems. This distribution can be configured to facilitate the optimal load balancing of traffic (e.g., requests, responses, notifications, etc.), which can encompass a wide spectrum of network traffic or data transactions. By leveraging a distributed operational framework, a system implemented in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure can effectively manage and mitigate potential bottlenecks, ensuring equitable processing distribution and preventing any single device from shouldering an excessive burden. This load balancing approach significantly enhances the overall responsiveness and efficiency of the network, markedly reducing the risk of system overload and ensuring continuous operational uptime. The technical advantages of this distributed load balancing can extend beyond mere efficiency improvements. It introduces a higher degree of fault tolerance within the network, where the failure of a single component does not precipitate a systemic collapse, markedly enhancing system reliability. Additionally, this distributed configuration promotes a dynamic scalability feature, enabling the system to adapt to varying levels of demand without necessitating substantial infrastructural modifications. The integration of advanced algorithmic strategies for traffic distribution and resource allocation can further refine the load balancing process, ensuring that computational resources are utilized with optimal efficiency and that data flow is maintained at an optimal pace, regardless of the volume or complexity of the requests being processed. Moreover, the practical application of these disclosed features represents a significant technical improvement over traditional centralized systems. Through the integration of the disclosed technology into existing networks, entities can achieve a superior level of service quality, with minimized latency, increased throughput, and enhanced data integrity. The distributed approach of embodiments can not only bolster the operational capacity of computing networks but can also offer a robust framework for the development of future technologies, underscoring its value as a foundational advancement in the field of network computing.

To aid in the load balancing, the computing system of embodiments of the present disclosure can spawn multiple processes and threads to process data traffic concurrently. The speed and efficiency of the computing system can be greatly improved by instantiating more than one process or thread to implement the claimed functionality. However, one skilled in the art of programming will appreciate that use of a single process or thread can also be utilized and is within the scope of the present disclosure.

It is an object of the disclosure to provide a system for managing operations of a classification yard. It is a further object of the disclosure to provide a method of managing operations of a classification yard, and a computer-based tool for managing operations of a classification yard. These and other objects are provided by the present disclosure, including at least the following embodiments.

In one particular embodiment, a method of managing operations of a classification yard is provided. The method includes determining, for a cut being routed to a destination train, one or more of a release speed, coupling speed, and a predicted speed of the cut at one or more points of a route along which the cut is traveling to reach the destination train. In embodiments, each in a set of event messages may represent an event that occurred during the traveling of the cut along the route to reach the destination train. The method also includes obtaining real-world measurements associated with an actual speed of the cut at the one or more points of the route, autotuning one or more coefficients associated with the predicted speed of the cut at the one or more points of the route based on the real-world measurements associated with the actual speed of the cut at the one or more points of the route, determining a status of one or more devices used to route the cut to the destination train based, at least in part, on thresholding analysis applied to the real-world measurements associated with the actual speed of the cut at the one or more points of the route, and storing the set of event messages in an event log for subsequent replaying in a graphical user interface (GUI).

In another embodiment, a system for managing operations of a classification yard is provided. The system comprises at least one processor and a memory operably coupled to the at least one processor and storing processor-readable code that, when executed by the at least one processor, is configured to perform operations. The operations include determining, for a cut being routed to a destination train, one or more of a release speed, coupling speed, and a predicted speed of the cut at one or more points of a route along which the cut is traveling to reach the destination train. In embodiments, each in a set of event messages may represent an event that occurred during the traveling of the cut along the route to reach the destination train. The operations also include obtaining real-world measurements associated with an actual speed of the cut at the one or more points of the route, autotuning one or more coefficients associated with the predicted speed of the cut at the one or more points of the route based on the real-world measurements associated with the actual speed of the cut at the one or more points of the route, determining a status of one or more devices used to route the cut to the destination train based, at least in part, on thresholding analysis applied to the real-world measurements associated with the actual speed of the cut at the one or more points of the route, and storing the set of event messages in an event log for subsequent replaying in a GUI.

In yet another embodiment, a computer-based tool for managing operations of a classification yard is provided. The computer-based tool including non-transitory computer readable media having stored thereon computer code which, when executed by a processor, causes a computing device to perform operations. The operations include determining, for a cut being routed to a destination train, one or more of a release speed, coupling speed, and a predicted speed of the cut at one or more points of a route along which the cut is traveling to reach the destination train. In embodiments, each in a set of event messages may represent an event that occurred during the traveling of the cut along the route to reach the destination train. The operations also include obtaining real-world measurements associated with an actual speed of the cut at the one or more points of the route, autotuning one or more coefficients associated with the predicted speed of the cut at the one or more points of the route based on the real-world measurements associated with the actual speed of the cut at the one or more points of the route, determining a status of one or more devices used to route the cut to the destination train based, at least in part, on thresholding analysis applied to the real-world measurements associated with the actual speed of the cut at the one or more points of the route, and storing the set of event messages in an event log for subsequent replaying in a GUI.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention.

It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale and that the disclosed embodiments are sometimes illustrated diagrammatically and in partial views. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the disclosed methods and apparatuses or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that this disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.

The disclosure presented in the following written description and the various features and advantageous details thereof, are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting examples included in the accompanying drawings and as detailed in the description. Descriptions of well-known components have been omitted to not unnecessarily obscure the principal features described herein. The examples used in the following description are intended to facilitate an understanding of the ways in which the disclosure can be implemented and practiced. A person of ordinary skill in the art would read this disclosure to mean that any suitable combination of the functionality or exemplary embodiments below could be combined to achieve the subject matter claimed. The disclosure includes either a representative number of species falling within the scope of the genus or structural features common to the members of the genus so that one of ordinary skill in the art can recognize the members of the genus. Accordingly, these examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

A person of ordinary skill in the art would understand that any system claims presented herein encompass all of the elements and limitations disclosed therein, and as such, require that each system claim be viewed as a whole. Any reasonably foreseeable items functionally related to the claims are also relevant. The Examiner, after having obtained a thorough understanding of the disclosure and claims of the present application has searched the prior art as disclosed in patents and other published documents, i.e., nonpatent literature. Therefore, the issuance of this patent is evidence that: the elements and limitations presented in the claims are enabled by the specification and drawings, the issued claims are directed toward patent-eligible subject matter, and the prior art fails to disclose or teach the claims as a whole, such that the issued claims of this patent are patentable under the applicable laws and rules of this country.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to systems and techniques that provide functionality for managing operations of a classification yard. Particular embodiments provide functionality for planning, controlling, tracking, and/or reporting the movement of cuts (e.g., train cars) from a hump rolling stock to a respectively assigned destination track/train. In embodiments, the functionality provided by the features described herein may represent an integrated, standardized, configurable, reliable, and efficient control system that may utilize a sustainable and maintainable software/hardware design to support operations of a classification yard.

is a block diagram of an exemplary systemconfigured with capabilities and functionality for managing operations of a classification yard in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in, systemmay include user terminal, classification yard, network, mapper, database, terminal process control (TPC), and backoffice. These components, and their individual components, may cooperatively operate to provide functionality in accordance with the discussion herein.

It is noted that the functional blocks, and components thereof, of systemof embodiments of the present invention may be implemented using processors, electronics devices, hardware devices, electronics components, logical circuits, memories, software codes, firmware codes, etc., or any combination thereof. For example, one or more functional blocks, or some portion thereof, may be implemented as discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or combinations thereof configured to provide logic for performing the functions described herein. Additionally, or alternatively, when implemented in software, one or more of the functional blocks, or some portion thereof, may comprise code segments operable upon a processor to provide logic for performing the functions described herein.

It is also noted that various components of systemare illustrated as single and separate components. However, it will be appreciated that each of the various illustrated components may be implemented as a single component (e.g., a single application, server module, etc.), may be functional components of a single component, or the functionality of these various components may be distributed over multiple devices/components. In such embodiments, the functionality of each respective component may be aggregated from the functionality of multiple modules residing in a single, or in multiple devices.

It is further noted that functionalities described with reference to each of the different functional blocks of systemdescribed herein is provided for purposes of illustration, rather than by way of limitation and that functionalities described as being provided by different functional blocks may be combined into a single component or may be provided via computing resources disposed in a cloud-based environment accessible over a network, such as one of network.

Classification yardmay represent a train yard, such as a hump yard, in which train cars are routed or marshalled to a destination track to be coupled to a destination train. In a typical operation of classification yard, such as a hump yard, a stock train that includes train cars to be marshalled to their assigned train may be pushed by a hump push engine at a push speed along the approach section of the hump to the crest of the hump. As the train cars roll past the hump crest, gravity may begin pulling the train cars towards the bottom of the hump. In embodiments, the train cars are “cut” from the stock train and the cut is allowed to roll down the hump and is marshalled to the destination train along a route through the marshalling tracks of the hump yard. In embodiments, classification yardmay include functionality to plan, track, control, and report the movement of the train cars through the marshalling tracks, including the hump approach section, the hump crest, the hump release area, and multiple marshalling tracks.

As noted above, ensuring that the cut reaches the assigned destination train at the appropriate coupling speed is very important. As such, in embodiments, a cut may be tracked and controlled as the cut moves along the marshalling tracks of classification yard. In particular, the route and the speed of the cut from the hump to its destination track or train may be controlled using various components of classification yard. For example, classification yardmay include various components enabling classification yardto track and/or control the movement of a cut through the marshalling tracks.

In embodiments, the various components enabling classification yardto track and/or control the movement and/or speed of a cut through the marshalling tracks may include devicesand segments, which may include hardware devices such as switches, retarders, radars, wheel detectors, distance units, identification devices, etc. In embodiments, the cooperative operation of the various components of classification yardmay enable classification yardto ensure that various cuts traverse the marshalling tracks and arrive at the destination coupling point at the appropriate coupling speed.

In embodiments, a switch device may be configured to route a cut from a source track to a target track. A switch may be thrown from a first position (e.g., corresponding to a first track) to a second position (e.g., corresponding to a second track) in order to route a cut passing through the switch from a source track to the second track, the second track being the target track of the cut. In this manner, switches may be used to control the route of a cut as it travels through the marshalling tracks.

A wheel detector may be configured to detect a speed of a cut by detecting the presence of a first wheel of the cut at a first time, detecting the presence of a second wheel of the cut at a second time, and determining a speed from the difference between the first and second times over the known distance between the first wheel and the second wheel. In embodiments, a radar device may be configured to detect the presence of a cut and/or to measure the speed of the cut traveling through the detection area of the radar devices. In this manner, wheel detectors and/or radars may be used to measure the speed and/or presence of cuts as the cuts move through the hump yard. In some embodiments, a device may include a combination of devices, such as a switch wheel detector, which may be configured to perform operations related to switch operations and wheel detector operations. In this manner, a switch wheel detector may be configured to route a cut to a target track and to detect the wheels of the cut (e.g., for speed measurement operations).

A retarder may be configured to slow down a cut as the cut travels through the. A retarder may be configured to apply a pressure against one or more wheels of the cut (e.g., using a braking element, such as a brake pad, etc.), which may cause the cut to slow down. In this manner, retarders may be used to further control the speed of a cut as it travels through the marshalling tracks of the hump yard.

In embodiments, distance units that may be configured to detect how far a current location of a cut within the hump yard may be from other cuts, from other devices, and/or from other points along the cut's route. In some embodiments, distance units may be used to measure a distance. In embodiments, identification devices may be configured to detect an identification of a cut, such as via radio frequency identification (RFID) devices. Identification devices may be used to identify cuts as the cuts travel through the marshalling tracks of the hump yard.

In embodiments, occupancy devices may include track circuits, light detectors, presence detectors, etc., and may be configured to detect occupancy of a track and/or track segment, such as to detect a presence of a vehicle within the track and/or track segment. In some embodiments, occupancy devices may be configured to detect when a track or track segment has been filled to a safe capacity, which may enable a system to prevent overfilling of the track or track segment. In embodiments, occupancy devices may be used in long sections of track that may not include a wheel detector, a retarder, etc. In embodiments, an occupancy device may be configured with predicted on and off times. If the on and off times are exceeded, a segment protected by the occupancy device may be temporarily protected and if the condition persists, the protection may remain. In embodiments, protecting a track or track segment may include routing away from the protected track or track segment, such as in response to a determination that sufficient time exists to route the vehicle away from the protected track or track segment. However, the railroad vehicle may be routed into the protected track segment (e.g., to prevent a side-swipe) in response to a determination that there is not sufficient time to route the vehicle away from the protected track or track segment.

In embodiments, the various devices in devicesmay be positioned at different locations or points within the layout of the classification yard. In embodiments, the position of the various devices in devicesmay be determined based on the layout of the track segments (e.g., segments) making up the marshalling tracks of classification yard. For example, a first retarder may be positioned along the release section of the hump, whereas a second retarder may be positioned along a different segment. In embodiments, wheel detectors and/or switches may be positioned at the entry point of each track segment within classification yard.

For example, the marshalling tracks of classification yardmay be divided into a plurality of segments (e.g., segments). In embodiments, each of segmentsmay be defined by an entry point and an exit. In some embodiments, the entry point and/or the exit point of a segment may correspond to a device (e.g., a switch, a retarder, a detector, etc.) of classification yard. In this manner, devices may be used to divide the marshalling tracks of classification yardinto segments. In embodiments, a route followed by a cut may be defined by a connection of various segments of segmentsthat may route the cut from the hump section to the assigned destination track. In some embodiments, a segment may include one or more devices within the segment. For example, a segment may include one or more retarders, one or more switches, one or more detectors, within the boundaries of the segment (e.g., in addition to the entry and/or exit point devices of the segment). In some embodiments, segments may be defined by geographical features.

Mappermay be configured to map classification yard. In embodiments, the functionality of mapperto perform mapping operations may include the use of mapping devices, such as light detection and ranging (LIDAR) devices, radio detection and ranging (RADAR), optical sensors (e.g., cameras, infrared (IR) sensors, etc.).

In embodiments, mappermay include functionality to determine and/or identify a geographical location of each component (e.g., track, segment, and/or hardware device) of and/or within classification yard. The geographical location for each component of classification yardmay be obtained as a geographical information system (GIS) coordinate and may be stored in a database (e.g., database). In embodiments, the GIS coordinate of the components (e.g., tracks, segments, and/or hardware devices) of classification yardmay be used by other components of systemto perform operations in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, TPCand/or backofficemay use the GIS coordinate of the components (e.g., tracks, segments, and/or hardware devices) of classification yardto make determinations regarding hump list creation operations, cut routing and speed control operations (e.g., including cut speed predictions, cut energy removal), cut protection operations, etc.

In embodiments, the functionality of mapperto perform mapping operations of the components of classification yardmay provide functionality to facilitate the integration or addition of new components (e.g., new tracks, new segments, new hardware devices, etc.) to classification yard. For example, adding new hardware devices, (e.g., adding new devices due to expansion of classification yard), or relocating an existing hardware device (e.g., relocating an existing hardware devices due geographical changes in classification yard) may include adding or changing the GIS coordinate of the hardware device, which may eliminate having to make extensive changes to the underlying code of the system (e.g., as is done in current systems).

Databasemay be configured to store a mapping of classification yard. In embodiments, the mapping of classification yardmay include GIS coordinates for each component (e.g., each track, each segment, and/or each hardware device) of classification yard. In embodiments, the GIS coordinate of the components (e.g., tracks, segments, and/or hardware devices) of classification yardmay be used by other components of systemto perform operations in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

User terminalmay include a mobile device, a smartphone, a tablet computing device, a personal computing device, a laptop computing device, a desktop computing device, a computer system of a vehicle, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smart watch, another type of wired and/or wireless computing device, or any part thereof. In embodiments, user terminalmay provide a user interface that may be configured to provide an interface (e.g., a graphical user interface (GUI)) structured to facilitate an operator interacting with system, e.g., via network, to execute and leverage the features provided by serveror. In embodiments, the operator may be enabled, e.g., through the functionality of user terminal, to provide configuration parameters that may be used by systemto provide functionality for managing operations of classification yard. In embodiments, user terminalmay be configured to communicate with other components of system.

In embodiments, user terminalmay be configured to present the GUI via a web-based scheme, which may include a web-based system that may allow systemto plan, control, track, and report the movement of cuts (e.g., train cars) from the hump rolling stock to the destination train.

In embodiments, networkmay facilitate communications between the various components of system(e.g., classification yard, mapper, database, TPC, backoffice, and/or user terminal. Networkmay include a wired network, a wireless communication network, a cellular network, a cable transmission system, a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wireless LAN (WLAN), a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), the Internet, the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), etc.

TPCmay be configured to provide main functionality of systemto manage operations of classification yard. In embodiments, TPC system may be configured to facilitate operations to plan, control, track, and report the movement of cuts (e.g., train cars) from the hump rolling stock to the destination train. In embodiments, TPCmay represent an integrated, standardized, configurable, reliable, and efficient control system that may utilize a sustainable and maintainable software/hardware design to support operations of classification yard.

In embodiments, TPCmay provide functionality to create a hump list, and to classify each train car in the hump list in accordance with the configuration of the hump list. The hump list may represent a listing of the train cars that are to be classified by classification yard(e.g., the train cars to be routed to their assigned destination train) and may include an indication of the assigned destination track/train of each train car. In embodiments, TPCmay create the hump list by communicating with external systems (e.g., a transportation support system (TSS), etc.) and obtaining train car data associated with the train cars in the rolling stock train to be classified. The hump list may include an indication or identification of each cut (e.g., each group of one or more cars to be included in each cut) that is to be “cut” from the rolling stock train at the hump.

In embodiments, as each cut enters the hump, each cut is separated from the rolling stock (e.g., using gravity) and allowed to coast downhill through the hump yard, and each cut may be routed to its assigned destination track/train to be coupled at the appropriate coupling speed. In embodiments, the release speed, the coupling speed, and/or the speed of each cut through the marshalling tracks of classification yardmay be determined by the operations of TPCto control the push engine speed, to control operations of retarders to remove energy from the cuts as the cuts move through the marshalling tracks of classification yard, to predict arrival times and/or speeds of the cuts at various devices and/or segments of classification yard, etc. Operations of TPCare described in more detail below (e.g., with reference to).