Maintenance of way autonomous machine operation

Abstract

A control system and method for a machine is disclosed. The control system may comprise a machine controller configured to activate autonomous remote operation of the machine based on parameters. The parameters may include a range, a set-point and an obstruction status, wherein the range is a distance from the machine to an operator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A control system for a machine, the control system comprising:
 a machine controller configured to:
 activate autonomous remote operation of the machine based on parameters, the parameters including a range, a set-point and an obstruction status, 
 wherein the range is a distance from the machine to an operator, wherein the operator is disposed remotely from the machine. 
   
     
     
         2 . The control system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the parameters further include a direction of translation for the machine,   wherein the operation of the machine is activated if the range is greater than the set-point and the obstruction status indicates that there is no detected obstruction to translation of the machine in the direction of translation.   
     
     
         3 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the parameters further include a machine location and an operator location. 
     
     
         4 . The control system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a machine communication member disposed on the machine and configured to provide GPS coordinates of the machine via a first communication channel, the first communication channel having a first link status, 
 wherein the parameters further include the first link status. 
 
     
     
         5 . The control system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a mobile communication member disposed on or adjacent to the operator, the mobile communication member configured to provide GPS coordinates of the operator via a first communication channel, the first communication channel having a first link status, 
 wherein the parameters further include the first link status. 
 
     
     
         6 . The control system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a mobile operator interface configured to receive a user input, the mobile operator interface in communication with the machine controller via a first communication channel, the mobile operator interface configured to transmit the user input to the machine controller via the first communication channel, the first communication channel having a first link status, 
 wherein the parameters further include the first link status. 
 
     
     
         7 . The control system of  claim 6 , in which the machine controller is further configured to receive a direction of translation for the machine from the mobile operator interface. 
     
     
         8 . A method of controlling a machine, the method comprising:
 activating, by a machine controller, autonomous remote operation of the machine based on parameters, the parameters including a range, a set-point and an obstruction status,   wherein the range is a distance from the machine to an operator, wherein the operator is disposed remote from the machine.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the parameters further include a machine location and an operator location. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8  further comprising:
 receiving GPS coordinates of the machine via a first communication channel, the first communication channel having a first link status, 
 wherein the parameters further include the first link status. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8  further comprising:
 receiving, from a mobile communication member disposed on or adjacent to the operator, GPS coordinates of the operator via a first communication channel, the first communication channel having a first link status, 
 wherein the parameters further include the first link status. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11  further comprising
 receiving an user input from a mobile operation interface via a first communication channel, the first communication channel having a first link status, 
 wherein the parameters further include the first link status. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12  further comprising receiving a direction of translation for the machine from the mobile operator interface. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the parameters further include a direction of translation for the machine,   wherein the operation of the machine is activated if the range is greater than the set-point and the obstruction status indicates that there is no detected obstruction to translation of the machine in the direction of translation.   
     
     
         15 . A control system for an autonomous broom machine on a track, the broom machine including a propulsion system configured to translate the broom machine on the tracks, one or more brooms configured to sweep the track, and one or more brakes configured to retard translation on the track, the control system comprising:
 a machine controller configured to:
 receive a direction of translation from a mobile operator interface via a first communication channel; 
 receive an obstruction status for the broom machine in the direction of translation, and an obstruction distance; 
 automatically activate, by the machine controller, autonomous remote operation of the broom machine if:
 (a) a range is greater than a set-point, wherein the range is a distance from the broom machine to an operator; and 
 (b) the obstruction status indicates that there is no detected obstruction to translation of the broom machine in the direction of translation or the obstruction distance is greater than the set-point; and 
 
 autonomously operate the broom machine, wherein operate the broom machine includes enablement of brooms, engagement of propulsion system and release of brakes. 
   
     
     
         16 . The control system of  claim 15 , in which the machine controller is further configured to automatically activate autonomous remote operation of the broom machine if:
 (a) the range is greater than the set-point;   (b) the obstruction status indicates that there is no detected obstruction to translation of the broom machine in the direction of translation or the obstruction distance is greater than the set-point; and   (c) an operational fault is not detected for the broom machine.   
     
     
         17 . The control system of  claim 15  further comprising:
 a display interface disposed on the broom machine, the display interface including a display controller in communication with a mobile communication member via a second communication channel, in communication with a machine communication member via a third communication channel, and in communication with the machine controller, the display controller configured to:
 receive GPS coordinates for the operator from the mobile communication member via the first communication link; 
 receive GPS coordinates for the broom machine from the machine communication member via the second communication link; 
 determine the range based on the GPS coordinates for the operator and the GPS coordinates for the broom machine; 
 determine the set-point; and 
 provide the range and set-point to the machine controller; and 
 
 in which the machine controller is further configured to automatically activate autonomous remote operation of the broom machine if: 
 (a) the range is greater than the set-point, the range a distance from the machine to an operator; and 
 (b) the obstruction status indicates that there is no detected obstruction to translation of the machine in the direction of translation or the obstruction distance is greater than the set-point; 
 (c) an operational fault is not detected for the machine; and 
 (d) a link status is not in an error state for the first communication channel, the second communication channel, or the third communication channel. 
 
     
     
         18 . The control system of  claim 15 , in which the machine controller is further configured to:
 receive an updated range,   stop translation of the broom machine and disable brooms and change a machine engine speed to idle, if the updated range is less than a shut-off distance.   
     
     
         19 . The control system of  claim 18 , in which the machine controller is further configured to:
 stop translation of the broom machine and change a machine engine speed to idle, if (a) the updated range is less than a shut-off distance; or (b) an obstruction is detected that is disposed at an obstruction distance that is less than the shut-off distance.   
     
     
         20 . The control system of  claim 19 , in which the machine controller is further configured to:
 receive an updated range associated with the operator and the stopped broom machine having a machine engine speed of idle,   automatically restart translation of the broom machine, enable brooms for sweeping operation and increase engine speed above idle.