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9/15/2015

GE Transportation: On-board locomotive monitoring systems

The company’s on-board solutions include control systems and cab electronics. The newest platform of cab electronics, GoLinc™, a mobile data center for locomotives, provides hardware and software to host key applications. One application it supports is Trip Optimizer™, an "intelligent" auto-pilot for locomotives that optimizes fuel consumption based on a specific train’s makeup and the route traveled, GE officials said.

These on-board systems connect to integrated off-board systems that can be hosted at a railroad or GE site. Together, the on- and off-board systems create actions, information and alerts that help customers better respond and optimize in real time, GE officials said.

The company recently opened its Global Performance Optimization Center in Erie, Pa., to showcase its on- and off-board solutions. The center is connected to sites in Texas, Brazil and Kazakhstan, and provides real-time expert health status and repair recommendations on more than 15,000 locomotives in 23 countries around the world. The system utilizes Predix, GE’s cloud-based platform for creating "Industrial Internet" applications, and processes more than 1.5 million messages a day.

The "expert information" has greater than 90 percent accuracy and more than 80 percent visibility to locomotive issues, company officials said. Recent solutions include predictive analytics on various locomotive systems, including traction motor combos and engines.