Locomotive Analysis and Reporting System
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Locomotive Analysis and Reporting System (LARS), was developed by Rockwell Collins in the 1980s as a real-time monitoring system for locomotives.[1][2][3] It involved the installation of a computer or microprocessor onboard locomotives to measure parameters like temperatures, voltages, and current.[1] The system allowed for the reporting of possible faults or failures over the ARES radio network to mechanical forces for predictive maintenance.[1] LARS was installed on SD40-2s and GP50s for Burlington Northern and helped to prolong the lifespan of GP50s. Today, most locomotives monitor parameters and communicate that information back to the manufacturer or railroad for predictive maintenance.[2][3][1] ARES was not a product but a concept, and it affected operations, accounting, communications, customer service, and information. The ARES system also included the Energy Management System (EMS), the Rail Operations Control System (ROCS), Centralized Traffic Control (CTC) and Track Warrant Control (TWC) through the use of Navstar Global Positioning Satellites (GPS).[1][4]
History
The Advanced Railroad Electronics System (ARES) was developed by Rockwell Collins, a technology company that specializes in aviation and defense systems, in collaboration with Burlington Northern Railroad (BN), one of the largest freight railroad networks in North America.[1][2]
In the late 1980s, ARES was installed on a section of the former Great Northern Railroad's Mesabi Iron Range main line between Superior and Grand Rapids, Minnesota, via Kelly Lake. The system consisted of several components, including Centralized Traffic Control (CTC) and Track Warrant Control (TWC) using Navstar Global Positioning Satellites (GPS), Locomotive Analysis and Reporting System (LARS), Energy Management System (EMS), and Rail Operations Control System (ROCS).[1][2]
The Locomotive Analysis and Reporting System (LARS) was one of the key components of ARES. It involved installing a computer onboard locomotives to monitor various parameters such as temperature, voltage, current, and oil pressure. The data was transmitted in real-time over the ARES radio network to maintenance bases, where mechanical forces could analyze it and identify possible faults or failures before they became critical.[1][4][2]
The Energy Management System (EMS) was another important component of ARES. It was designed to optimize fuel consumption and reduce emissions by monitoring locomotive performance and adjusting throttle and braking accordingly. By improving the efficiency of locomotives, EMS helped BN save money on fuel costs and reduce its environmental impact.[1][2]
The Rail Operations Control System (ROCS) was the final component of ARES. It provided real-time information about train locations, speeds, and routes to dispatchers and other personnel in the field. This allowed BN to optimize its train movements and improve overall efficiency and safety.[1][4][2]
The Advanced Railroad Electronics System (ARES) system proved to be a success, and it was eventually expanded to cover other sections of the BN network.[1][2] Today, many of the features of ARES, including onboard microprocessors and real-time monitoring, are standard features on locomotives across the industry. The EMD GP50 was the first production locomotive series to be fitted with a microprocessor, and EMD fitted the 60 series with microprocessors as standard following the success of LARS.[5] and Rockwell Collins' Railroad Electronics Group was acquired by Wabtec Railway Electronics in 2009, but the legacy of ARES and LARS continues to influence modern rail technology.[1]
See Also
- Burlington Northern Railroad developed and introduced LARS on its locomotives in partnership with Rockwell Collins.
- EMD GP50s were the first locomotives to be fitted with LARS by Burlington Northern making them the first locomotives to have been fitted with a microprocessor.
- EMD SD40-2s were fitted with LARS by Burlington Northern.
- EMD 60 series locomotives were built with microprocessors as standard following the success of ARES and LARS with Burlington Northern.
- Rockwell Collins developed LARS in partnership with Burlington Northern.
- Wabtec now owns Rockwell Collins, the developer of LARS.
- Advanced Train Control System (ATCS)
- Positive train control
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 "Operational Chronology – FOBNR.ORG". Retrieved 2023-03-15.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 "QUANTIFICATION OF THE BUSINESS BENEFITS OF POSITIVE TRAIN CONTROL" (PDF). tsdtemp.turnlav.net. 2004-03-15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-03-23. Retrieved 2023-03-23. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Burlington Northern into the 90s von Joseph W Shine Motiv Power Bild HD • EUR 45,61". PicClick DE. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Phillips, Don (1992-08-24). "SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
- ↑ Solomon, Brian (2006). EMD Locomotives. Voyageur Press. pp. 148–151. ISBN 978-1-61060-379-9. Search this book on
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