Digital train determination assistant

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a digital train brake testing and car preparation assistant. Therein, a system, method and computer program for determining component parameters of a train are provided. The system can include a plurality of sensor nodes mounted to respective portions of the train, wherein the plurality of sensor nodes form a sensor network on rail cars, wherein a plurality of rail cars form a wireless mesh network, and wherein each of the plurality of sensor nodes is configured to collect data of components of the respective portion of the train and publish the collected data into the wireless mesh network. The system can further include a server system configured to receive the published data of the wireless mesh network and determine component parameters of the train based on the received data. Further, a user device for displaying the component parameters determined by the system, method and computer program for determining component parameters of a train is provided.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention generally relates to a digital train determination assistant and more particularly to a system, method and computer program for determining component parameters of a train. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a user device for displaying component parameters determined by the system, method and computer program for determining component parameters of a train. BACKGROUND

[0002] Currently, the inspection of train components is performed by humans. That is, a test person walks along the train and inspects the components to be determined, evaluated or tested. Therein, the components to be determined, evaluated or tested can for example be the brake system and / or the air supply system of the train. In particular, the components to be determined or tested can be brake shoes. However, such a manual inspection is very time consuming and prone to errors due to the dependency on the skills of the test person. Further, such a manual inspection can only be performed when the train is not in use, for example when the train is in a maintenance facility. Moreover, the inspection person needs to walk along the train and sequentially determine or test each component of the train one by one. That is, the test person has no guidance about where on the train a problematic component can be located.

[0003] Nevertheless, the train consist can change. For example, depending on the goods to be transported, a locomotive can be coupled to a different number of railcars. Moreover, depending on the goods to be transported, a number of railcars can be coupled to a different number of locomotives. Thus, a manual inspection performed for a specific train consist can not be applicable for a different consist of the train.

[0004] Therefore, it is a technical problem of the present invention to provide a system, method and computer program for determining component parameters of a train which provides a faster and more reliable determination of train components. In particular, it is a target technical problem of the present invention to provide a digital train determination assistant which provides a faster and more reliable determination of train components. SUMMARY

[0005] The present invention is defined in the independent claims. Advantageous refinements of embodiments of the present invention are defined in the dependent claims.

[0006] In its most general form, the present invention provides a system for determining component parameters of a train. Therein, the system can comprise a plurality of sensor nodes mounted to respective parts of the train, wherein the plurality of sensor nodes form a wireless mesh network, and wherein each of the plurality of sensor nodes is configured to gather data of components of the respective part of the train and to publish the gathered data into the wireless mesh network. Further, the system can comprise a server configured to receive the published data of the wireless mesh network and to determine component parameters of the train based on the received data.

[0007] Thus, the system can determine component parameters of the train based on the gathered data of the plurality of sensor nodes forming the wireless mesh network, wherein the gathered data is accessible to the server configured to determine the component parameters of the train based on the gathered data published in the wireless mesh network. In this way, the component parameters of the train can be determined without the need for manual inspection of the components of the parts of the train. That is, the component parameters of the train can be determined automatically by the wireless mesh network used to gather the data and the server configured to determine the component parameters based on the gathered data of the wireless mesh network. This is particularly advantageous because the test personnel can get guidance on where a problematic component can be located in the train. Furthermore, this is particularly advantageous when the train consist changes and the component parameters of the new train consist have not been determined so far. Moreover, this is particularly advantageous because the component parameters of the train change over time even when the train consist can not change.

[0008] In a further aspect, the system can further comprise a gateway configured to relay the gathered data of the plurality of sensor nodes to the server via direct or indirect wireless communication, preferably wherein the gateway is the single point of communication between the server and the wireless mesh network. In this way, the processing requirements of the sensor nodes can be reduced to a minimum, e.g. only gathering data and publishing the gathered data into the wireless mesh network, while further processing steps can be offloaded to the gateway. Thus, the battery life of the sensor nodes can be prolonged because the sensor nodes can be put into a sleep mode when they do not gather data and / or do not publish data to the wireless mesh network. Further, the gateway can be a sensor hub of a part of the train, in particular a sensor hub of a rail car, as will be further described below. Moreover, the gateway can be a handheld device, e.g. a laptop, a tablet, or a computing device with a display device removably fixed to the computing device.

[0009] In another aspect, the gateway can be directly powered by the train. This is particularly advantageous, as the gateway has the highest power requirements as a single communication point between the server and the wireless mesh network. In this way, the lifetime of the sensor nodes, and thus of the wireless mesh network, can be prolonged. Furthermore, the gateway can be fixedly installed in or on a specific part of the train, for example, into the locomotive. In this way, the power supply of the gateway can be provided by the locomotive itself. Furthermore, the gateway can act as the default gateway of the wireless mesh network. In this way, processing power for finding consensus about which node acts as a gateway can be saved. Furthermore, the gateway can comprise a cellular communication module to communicate with the server. Thus, the resource-intensive operation of publishing and / or submitting the gathered data to the server can be transferred from the sensor nodes to the gateway. In this way, the battery lifetime of the sensor nodes can be prolonged.

[0010] In another aspect, the system can further comprise a user device, preferably a user device which can also have the capability to act as a gateway, which is communicatively coupled to the server and configured to display the determined component parameters. Thus, the determined component parameters can be communicated to the outside world, for example to a train inspector, for example a test person, even if the test person is outside the locomotive cabin, on the track or next to the rail car, to further improve the guidance of the inspection. In this way, the determination of the component parameters of the train can be performed in a more time-efficient manner. Furthermore, the determination of the component parameters of the train can be made without being misinterpreted by the train inspector. Furthermore, the determined component parameters can also be communicated to the train manufacturer.

[0011] In yet another aspect, the user device can display the component parameters in a binary manner. Therein, binary is interpreted as having only two values, for example, a red displayed output can mean that the component parameter is outside the tolerance interval, while a green displayed output can mean that the component parameter is within the tolerance interval. Alternatively, the user device can also display the component parameters in a more complex graphical user interface, for example, displaying the numerical values or a graph of the determined component parameters. In this way, the determined component parameters of the train can be easily perceived by the outside world, for example by the test person. In another aspect, the user device can be communicatively coupled to the wireless mesh network and be able to determine the component parameters of the train based on the received data.

[0012] In yet another aspect of the system, the component can be a brake system of a part of the train. Alternatively, the component can be a compressor system of a part of the train. Furthermore, the component can be any component of the train which is subject to changes. Thus, essential components of the train can be tested and / or monitored.

[0013] In another aspect, the parts of the train can be railcars and / or a locomotive. This provides that the component parameters can be determined for a train which is changed in consist. For example, the component parameters can be determined for a single locomotive coupled to a different number of railcars depending on the goods to be transported. Furthermore, the component parameters can also be determined for a plurality of railcars coupled to a different number of locomotives depending on the goods to be transported.

[0014] In another aspect of the present application, the server can be configured to store the received data to establish a log of the received data. In this way, the server can record all received data or only a subset of the received data. By doing so, an increasing amount of received data can be used to determine the component parameters of the train. This provides a more accurate determination of the component parameters of the train. Furthermore, depending on the growing amount of received data, erroneous measurement values can be disregarded, for example by applying statistical means to the most recent measurement values compared to the data stored at the server. In another aspect, the server can be configured to aggregate information based on the received data.

[0015] In yet another aspect of the present application, the server can further be configured to extrapolate future component parameters based on the stored log and / or the aggregated information. In this way, the component parameters cannot be determined only retrospectively. Instead, future component parameters can be extrapolated from the gathered data. In this way, predictions can be made from the gathered data of the wireless mesh network.

[0016] In another aspect, the extrapolated future component parameters or the aggregated component parameters can be used to determine that maintenance of the train is necessary or to determine whether the system passes or fails a test criterion, preferably wherein the test is a brake test. Furthermore, the extrapolated future component parameters can be used to determine possible future failures and / or reliability issues. In this way, unnecessary maintenance work at a maintenance facility can be avoided. Vice versa, unforeseeable reliability issues and future possible failures can be discovered before they actually occur. Thus, the reliability of the train can be improved.

[0017] In another aspect of the present application, the plurality of sensor nodes forming the wireless mesh network can not be able to influence the functionality of the respective component of the train. That is, the plurality of sensor nodes are passive sensors and do not influence the operation of the train parts, for example the brake system and / or the compressor system. Since the plurality of sensor nodes are only passive, it can be avoided that the sensor nodes cause negative interference to the train components, for example due to transmission errors or internal anomalies.

[0018] In yet another aspect, the component parameter can comprise a brake system status. The brake system status can for example comprise the status "applied" or "released". Thus, it can be determined whether the brake system of a part of the train is applied or released. The component parameter can comprise at least one pressure level of the brake system. The pressure level of the brake system can comprise a numerical value and a unit value. The component parameter can further comprise a valve status of the brake system. Such a valve status can indicate a leak or a fault detection. Furthermore, such a valve status can indicate a specific parameter of the valve. Despite the foregoing, the component parameter can further comprise a time measurement of the brake system. This time measurement can comprise a release time and / or a fill time, for example of a compressor system of a given train. Furthermore, the component parameter can further comprise a position of a switch. Such a switch position can comprise the positions "on", "off" and / or "G-P status". Thus, detailed information about the component parameter can be determined based on the acquired data of the plurality of sensor nodes of the wireless mesh network.

[0019] In a further aspect, each of the plurality of sensor nodes can be configured to acquire data of the component at an adjustable frequency. In this way, the resolution of the acquired data can be adjusted. This can be particularly advantageous, as the battery life of the wireless mesh network depends to a large extent on the measurement frequency performed by the sender nodes. Thus, the life of the wireless mesh network can advantageously be adjusted to the needs of the train manufacturer and / or the maintenance facility.

[0020] In a further aspect of the present invention, the component parameter can comprise a component parameter for each part of the train. This is particularly advantageous, as not only an overall component parameter can be determined, but alternatively a parameter for each part of the train can be determined. Thereby valuable information about each part of the train is provided. This information can be used to provide a test person with guidance about where a problematic component can be located in the train. Thus, the inspection time can be shortened.

[0021] In a further aspect of the present invention, a method for determining a component parameter of a train is provided. Therein, the method can comprise acquiring data of a component of a respective part of the train by a plurality of sensor nodes mounted to the respective part of the train, wherein the plurality of sensor nodes form a wireless mesh network. The method can further comprise publishing the acquired data by the plurality of sensor nodes into the wireless mesh network. The method can further comprise determining a component parameter of the train based on the received data by a server configured to receive the published data of the wireless mesh network.

[0022] In a further aspect, the above-mentioned method can comprise the additional features described with respect to the system.

[0023] In yet a further aspect of the present application, a computer program is provided. Therein, the computer program comprises instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the steps of the method as described above.

[0024] In yet a further aspect of the present application, a user device for displaying component parameters of a train is provided. Therein, the user device can be communicatively coupled to a server or a wireless mesh network of the system for determining component parameters of a train as described above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0025] In the following detailed description of the application, the presently preferred embodiments of the application will be further described with reference also to the following drawings:

[0026] Figure 1 Fig. 1 shows a system overview of a system for determining component parameters of a train according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0027] Figure 2 Fig. 2 shows a system overview of a system for determining component parameters of a part of a train according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] In the following, the presently preferred embodiments of the present application are described in relation to a digital train determination assistant. The approach disclosed herein is generally used to provide a faster and more reliable determination of component parameters or train inspection.

[0029] Figure 1 Fig. 1 shows a system overview of a system for determining component parameters of a train according to an embodiment of the present application. The system 100 comprises a train 110, a server 140 and a user device 160.

[0030] The train 110 comprises a locomotive 112 and a plurality of railcars 114. The railcars 114 comprise a communication device 122, which is preferably mounted on a distribution valve of the railcar 114. Therein, the communication device 122 can comprise a sensor node and a sensor hub, as will be further described below. The sensor node and / or the sensor hub are nodes in a sensor network that are capable of performing processing, collecting sensory information, and communicating with other connected nodes in the network. Generally, the main components of a sensor node are a microcontroller, a transceiver, a memory, a power source, and one or more sensors. The controller can perform tasks, process data, and control the functionality of the other components in the sensor node. The transceiver of the sensor node utilizes a wireless transmission medium. Such wireless transmission medium includes, but is not limited to, radio frequency (RF), optical communication (laser), and infrared transmission. The memory can be one of an on-chip memory or an off-chip memory. The power source typically comprises a battery, such as a NiCd (Nickel-Cadmium), NiZn (Nickel-Zinc), NiMH (Nickel-Metal Hydride), or a Lithium Ion battery, but can also use the power lines of the railcar, if any. The one or more sensors can be used to capture data from their environment, i.e. the train component to be determined, evaluated, or inspected. Generally, a sensor is a hardware device that can produce a measurable response to a change in a physical condition, like temperature, pressure, or the position of an object (e.g. a brake shoe). The sensor measures the physical data of the parameter to be determined and has specific characteristics of accuracy, sensitivity, etc. The analog signal produced by the sensor is digitized by an analog-to-digital converter and sent to the microcontroller for further processing.

[0031] Furthermore, the locomotive 112 can also comprise a communication device as described above, which can at the same time act as a user device, e.g. a user device with a display, which is preferably removably fixed to the computing device. In particular, the locomotive 112 can comprise a communication device acting as a gateway 124, as will be further described below. The communication devices 122 and 124 form a sensor network 120. Therein, the sensor network 120 can be a wireless mesh network. A wireless mesh network is a communication network composed of radio nodes, in particular sensor nodes that publish data, and is organized in a mesh topology, wherein mesh refers to the rich interconnection between sensor devices or sensor nodes. Each sensor node also acts as a provider that forwards data to the next sensor node. Since each node only needs to transmit to at least one next node, the network infrastructure is decentralized and simplified. A wireless mesh network typically consists of mesh clients (e.g. the sensor nodes 122, which comprise a sensor node and / or a sensor hub as described below in Figs. 2 and 2, respectively, at 222 and 226) and mesh gateways (e.g. the gateway 124 or a sensor node 122 acting as a gateway). Figure 2

[0032] ​As mentioned above, the communication device of the locomotive 112 can be the gateway 124. A gateway is a networking hardware for a telecommunications network, such as the sensor network 120, which allows data to flow from one network entity to another, for example from the wireless mesh network 120 to the server 140. The gateway functionality can also be implemented by software.

[0033] The gateway 124, which can alternatively be a sensor node 122 acting as a gateway, communicates with the server 140. In particular, the gateway 124 can act as a single point of communication between the wireless mesh network and the server 140. When the gateway 124 is not present in the wireless mesh network 120, the communication device 122 can act as a single point of communication for all or a selected portion of the wireless mesh network 120 or for a single railcar sensor network. Therein, the gateway 124 and the server 140 can use any transport protocol for transmitting data, for example the hypertext transfer protocol.

[0034] The server 140 can be a server implemented in hardware, or in software, or in a combination of both. A server is a computer hardware or software, for example a computer program, which provides functionality for other programs or devices. In Figure 1 In an embodiment, the server 140 is configured to receive published data of the wireless mesh network 120 and to determine component parameters of the train based on the data received from the wireless mesh network 120.

[0035] The server 140 can be communicatively coupled to a user device 160 or, alternatively, to a gateway 124 acting as a user device. The user device can be a mobile device, for example a smartphone, a tablet, a personal digital assistant, etc. Further, the user device can also be a computer, for example a laptop or a desktop computer. Further, the user device can be a computing device having a display device removably fixed to the computing device. Further, the user device 160 can be configured to perform component tests, in particular brake tests. The brake tests can be implemented by a specific application running on the user device 160 or on the gateway 124 acting as a user device. Thus, the user device 160 or the gateway 124 acting as a user device can be a special device called brake test controller. Such a brake test controller can be an integrated hardware and software solution which together execute an application implementing brake tests.

[0036] Figure 2 A system overview of a system for determining component parameters of a portion of a train according to an embodiment of the present application is shown. In Figure 2In a particular example, the part of the train is a railcar. However, the part of the train can alternatively be a locomotive. The railcar comprises a braking system 210, a communication device 222, which can simultaneously be a sensor node, and a plurality of sensor nodes 226. The communication device 222 can be a communication device as described with reference to Figure 1 The communication device 222 can be fixed to a distribution valve of the railcar. Preferably, the distribution valve of the railcar is a distribution valve of a compressed air circuit. The plurality of sensor nodes 226 can be sensor nodes as described with reference to Figure 1 It can be seen that the plurality of sensor nodes can be mounted to a single part of the train, e.g. Figure 2 The railcar. Therein, each of these sensor nodes 226 can determine a respective component parameter, e.g. a parameter associated with the braking system, the compressor system, and any other component that is crucial for the operation of the railcar. Thus, the sensor nodes 226 can not only determine a single parameter for each part of the train. Rather, a plurality of parameters can be determined for the respective part of the train. As such, a plurality of parameters can be determined for the respective part of the train, as already elaborated on above. Furthermore, the communication device 222 can be a sensor hub that acts as a gateway with respect to the sensor nodes 226. That is, the communication device 222 receives and processes the data gathered from the sensor nodes 226. Thus, in terms of the data communication path, the communication device 222, which is preferably a sensor hub, is hierarchically above the sensor nodes 226.

Claims

1. A system for determining component parameters of a train, the system comprising: Multiple sensor nodes installed on a corresponding part of the train, wherein the multiple sensor nodes form a wireless mesh network, and wherein each of the multiple sensor nodes is configured to collect data from components of the corresponding part of the train and publish the collected data to the wireless mesh network, wherein the corresponding part of the train is a railcar and / or a locomotive; and A server, configured to receive data published by the wireless mesh network and determine the component parameters of the train based on the received data, and The server is configured to store the received data to create a log of the received data, and the server is configured to infer future component parameters based on the stored log.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising: A gateway configured to relay data collected by the plurality of sensor nodes to the server, wherein the gateway is a single communication point between the server and the wireless mesh network.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein, The gateway is powered directly by the train.

4. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: User equipment, communicatively connected to the server and configured to display determined component parameters, The user device displays component parameters in at least binary format. The user equipment is communicatively connected to the wireless mesh network and is able to determine the component parameters of the train based on the received data.

5. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The component is the braking system of the corresponding part of the train.

6. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The server includes a statistical device and ignores erroneous data in the received data by applying the statistical device to the received data compared with the data stored at the server, or The server is configured to aggregate information based on the received data.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein, The server is also configured to infer future component parameters based on the aggregated information, or The future component parameters are used to determine potential future failures or reliability issues.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein, The inferred future component parameters or the aggregated component parameters are used to determine whether maintenance of the train is necessary, or to determine whether the system passes or fails a test, wherein the test is a braking test.

9. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The multiple sensor nodes forming the wireless mesh network cannot affect the function of the corresponding components of the train.

10. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The component parameters include at least one of the following: braking system status, braking system pressure level, braking system valve status, braking system time measurement, and braking system switch position.

11. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, Each of the plurality of sensor nodes is configured to acquire data from the component at an adjustable frequency.

12. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The component parameters include component parameters for each part of the train.

13. A method for determining component parameters of a train, comprising: Data on components of the corresponding part of the train is collected by multiple sensor nodes installed on the corresponding part of the train, wherein the multiple sensor nodes form a wireless mesh network, and wherein the corresponding part of the train is a railcar and / or a locomotive; The collected data is published to the wireless mesh network through the multiple sensor nodes; and The component parameters of the train are determined by a server configured to receive data published by the wireless mesh network, wherein the server stores the received data to establish a log of the received data, and infers future component parameters based on the stored log.

14. A computer program comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the steps of the method according to claim 13.

15. A user device for displaying component parameters of a train, wherein, The user equipment is communicatively connected to a server or wireless mesh network of the system for determining the component parameters of the train according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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