BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The subject matter described herein relates to measuring characteristics of a vehicle system.

Discussion of Art

The weight of a vehicle system traveling on a route affects various movement characteristics of the vehicle system. For example, weight affects acceleration capabilities, braking distances, friction properties, lateral forces (e.g., centrifugal forces) along curves, and the like. Various algorithms for modeling the movement of vehicle systems rely on weight and/or mass information of the vehicle systems as input parameters in physics-based calculations.

The accuracy of movement modeling algorithms is reduced when inaccurate vehicle weight and/or mass information are used in the calculations. For example, some systems may retrieve and utilize predefined, generic weight values from a database to represent the weight of the vehicle system in the calculations. The weight values selected may be based on type of vehicle (e.g., coal car, flatbed car, locomotive, etc.), regardless of whether the vehicle is loaded with cargo, the type of the cargo if loaded, and the like. The actual weight of the vehicle system may vary considerably from the weight that is determined based on the selection of generic, predefined weight values. This considerable variance between the expected and actual weight reduces the accuracy of the modeling of vehicle movement. For example, due to the variance, the movement modeling algorithms often make conservative estimates to error on the side of caution, such as by overestimating a distance required to bring the moving vehicle system to a stop and underestimating acceleration capabilities of the vehicle system. As a result, a vehicle system moving according to the conservative estimates may operate at reduced performance levels (e.g., fuel efficiency, speed, acceleration settings, brake settings, or the like) than the vehicle system would operate if the movement were more accurately modeled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

In one embodiment, a system (e.g., a weight profile determination system) is provided that includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor is disposed along a route and configured to generate a plurality of force measurements of a vehicle system moving on the route relative to the sensor. The force measurements are obtained at different times and correspond to different locations along a length of the vehicle system. The controller is configured to determine a weight profile for the vehicle system based on the force measurements generated by the sensor. The weight profile represents a distribution of weight along the length of the vehicle system. The controller is configured to communicate the weight profile to one or more of the vehicle system or an offboard device for controlling movement of the vehicle system based on the weight profile.

In one embodiment, a method (e.g., for determining a weight profile of a vehicle system) includes generating a plurality of force measurements of a vehicle system moving on a route. The force measurements are obtained at different times and correspond to different locations along a length of the vehicle system. The method includes determining a weight profile for the vehicle system based on the force measurements that are generated. The weight profile represents a distribution of weight along the length of the vehicle system. The method also includes communicating the weight profile to one or more of the vehicle system or an offboard device for controlling movement of the vehicle system based on the weight profile.

In one embodiment, a system (e.g., a weight profile determination system) includes a sensor, a controller, and a vehicle control system. The sensor is disposed along a route and configured to generate a plurality of force measurements of a vehicle system moving on the route relative to the sensor. The force measurements are obtained at different times and correspond to different locations along a length of the vehicle system. The controller is configured to determine a weight profile for the vehicle system based on the force measurements generated by the sensor. The weight profile represents a distribution of weight along the length of the vehicle system. The vehicle control system is onboard the vehicle system and is configured to receive the weight profile determined by the controller and to use the weight profile to determine movement characteristics of the vehicle system including one or more of brake characteristics, acceleration characteristics, or friction characteristics.

