Vehicle control system and method

Abstract

A control system receives signals representing a presence and position of a secondary movement system onboard a vehicle. The secondary movement system changes movement of the vehicle without generating thrust or propulsion to move the vehicle. The control system creates a schedule of use of the secondary movement system based on the presence and position of the secondary movement system and controls the secondary movement system based on the schedule that is created.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A control system comprising:
 a control unit configured to be disposed onboard a vehicle having a primary propulsion system and a secondary movement system, the primary propulsion system configured to propel the vehicle, the secondary movement system configured to change propulsion of the vehicle by the primary propulsion system by one or more of changing adhesion of the vehicle to a route or changing a direction in which the primary propulsion system propels the vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary movement system is configured to change the adhesion of the vehicle to the route by directing air toward the route. 
     
     
         3 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to receive one or more signals representing one or more of a presence or position of the secondary movement system onboard the vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to create a schedule that manages use of the secondary movement system and control the secondary movement system based on the schedule that is created. 
     
     
         5 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary movement system includes an aileron coupled to an aircraft wing. 
     
     
         6 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary movement system includes an aircraft rudder. 
     
     
         7 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary movement system includes an aircraft elevator. 
     
     
         8 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary movement system includes a motor that raises or lowers a propeller of the primary propulsion system. 
     
     
         9 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary movement system includes a trim plate of a marine vessel. 
     
     
         10 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary movement system includes a motor that raises or lowers a propeller of the primary propulsion system. 
     
     
         11 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary movement system includes one or more of a bow thruster or a stern thruster of a marine vessel. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 controlling propulsion of a vehicle using a primary propulsion system; and   one or more of changing adhesion of the vehicle to a route or changing a direction in which the primary propulsion system propels the vehicle using a secondary movement system.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the adhesion of the vehicle to the route is changed by directing air toward the route. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 receiving one or more signals representing one or more of a presence or position of the secondary movement system onboard the vehicle.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 creating a schedule that manages use of the secondary movement system; and   controlling the secondary movement system based on the schedule that is created.