Automatic Driving System Disengagement Upon Operator Failure

Abstract

A control system requires an affirmative action from an operator to disengage. This precludes a situation where an automatic drive system disengagement sequence is completed while the operator is either incapacitated or unavailable. Requiring an affirmative action by the operator ensures a machine's continued and efficient operation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A control system, comprising:
 a machine;   an engine operatively associated with the machine; and   an automatic drive system governing control of the engine, the automatic drive system requiring an affirmative action from an operator to disengage.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the affirmative action is required after the control system has decremented an applied throttle setting to idle. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the affirmative action includes adjusting a hand throttle. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the affirmative action includes matching the hand throttle to an applied throttle setting selected by the automatic drive system. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the machine is a vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the vehicle is a locomotive. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the engine is a diesel-electric drive system. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the engine is an electric drive system. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein an operator cab is provided on the machine and adapted to house the operator. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a remote operator station provided remotely relative to the machine. 
     
     
         11 . A locomotive, comprising:
 an engine;   a control system operatively associated with the engine; and   an automatic drive system operatively associated with the control system, the automatic drive system requiring an affirmative action from an operator to disengage.   
     
     
         12 . The locomotive of  claim 11 , wherein the affirmative action is required after the control system has decremented an applied throttle setting to idle. 
     
     
         13 . The locomotive of  claim 11 , wherein the affirmative action includes adjusting a hand throttle. 
     
     
         14 . The locomotive of  claim 13 , wherein the affirmative action includes matching the hand throttle to an applied throttle setting selected by the automatic drive system. 
     
     
         15 . The locomotive of  claim 11 , wherein the engine is a diesel-electric drive system. 
     
     
         16 . The locomotive of  claim 11 , wherein the engine is an electric drive system. 
     
     
         17 . The locomotive of  claim 11 , wherein an operator cab is provided on the machine and adapted to house the operator. 
     
     
         18 . The locomotive of  claim 11 , further including a remote operator station provided remotely relative to the machine. 
     
     
         19 . A method of operating a locomotive, comprising,
 engaging an automatic drive system to control operation of the locomotive; and   requiring an affirmative action from an operator to disengage the automatic drive system.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the affirmative action is required after a control system has decremented an applied throttle setting to idle.