Back-up and redundancy of modules in locomotive distributed control systems

摘要

The present disclosure is directed to a distributed control system for a locomotive. The distributed system may include a network, a plurality of electronic modules and a plurality of control elements distributed within the locomotive. Each of the electronic modules is communicatively coupled to the network in a standardized scalable architecture. Each of the electronic modules may be programmatically reconfigurable to implement distributed control of the locomotive. A first electronic module and a second electronic module of the plurality of electronic modules may be communicatively connected to one of the plurality of control elements via separate communication paths. The first electronic module may be configured to control the control element, and the second electronic module may be configured to control the control element when the first electronic module enters into a failure condition.

主权项

1. A consist, comprising:
a plurality of locomotives, each locomotive comprising:
a network disposed within the locomotive;a plurality of electronic modules spatially distributed within the locomotive, each of the electronic modules communicatively coupled to the network in a standardized scalable architecture and being programmatically reconfigurable to implement distributed control of the locomotive; anda plurality of control elements distributed within the locomotive, wherein a first electronic module and a second electronic module of the plurality of electronic modules are communicatively connected to one of the plurality of control elements via separate communication paths, the first electronic module is configured to control the control element, the second electronic module is configured to control the control element when the first electronic module enters into a failure condition, and wherein the first electronic module enters into the failure condition when a consumption of processing capacity of the first electronic module exceeds a threshold value.