BLE Signal-Intensity Positioning for Guided Railway Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for tracking and locating guided vehicles on railway networks are complex, expensive, and require regular maintenance, limiting their use to mainlines, while manual methods are used for secondary lines, necessitating a simpler, flexible, and reliable system.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) devices of two types, BLET1 and BLET2, installed on vehicles and along tracks, measures signal intensity and power levels to determine vehicle position, with a control subsystem associating data to identify vehicles and calculate positions using intensity values and power levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If track circuit or axle counter systems are used for tracking guided vehicles, then positioning reliability is improved, but device complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical track circuits and axle counters with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) wireless communication technology. BLE beacons installed on guided vehicles communicate position data wirelessly to trackside receivers, eliminating the need for complex mechanical sensing infrastructure while maintaining positioning reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses virtual copies of position information through BLE signal transmission rather than physical mechanical detection. The digital representation of vehicle position is transmitted and processed electronically, replacing physical track circuit interruptions and axle counter mechanical sensing
2Measurement precision
If track circuit or axle counter systems are installed, then positioning accuracy is improved, but maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The BLE-based system requires minimal maintenance as the beacons on guided vehicles are battery-powered and self-contained, automatically transmitting position data without requiring trackside equipment calibration or adjustment. The system is inherently more maintenance-free compared to mechanical track circuits that require regular testing and adjustment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs inexpensive BLE beacons with limited battery life installed on guided vehicles, replacing expensive, long-lived mechanical track infrastructure. These disposable or replaceable beacons reduce overall system cost and simplify maintenance compared to permanent track circuit installations
3Device complexity
If manual tracking methods are used for secondary lines, then device complexity is reduced, but positioning reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal positioning system using BLE technology that can be deployed on both mainlines and secondary lines with the same hardware configuration. The same BLE beacons and trackside receivers used on mainlines provide automated, reliable tracking on secondary lines, eliminating the need for manual methods while maintaining system simplicity
4Adaptability or versatility
If BLE devices are installed on vehicles and tracks, then system adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning system is segmented into independent modular components: BLE beacons on guided vehicles, BLE receivers on tracks, and a central server. Each component operates independently and can be installed or removed without affecting other parts of the system, providing configuration flexibility while simplifying installation compared to integrated mechanical systems
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise and reliable vehicle location with flexibility for various network and vehicle configurations, offering safety and integrity checks, reducing installation and maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
each BLE beacon is configured for broadcasting a signal encoding information data comprising at least a unique identifier and a power level data
Implementation Method 2
upon reception of a signal broadcasted by a BLE beacon, each BLE gateway is configured for measuring an intensity of the received signal
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The present invention concerns a system (100) and a method for locating one or several guided vehicles (1) on a track (2) of a railway network, said system (100) comprising: - a control subsystem (103) configured for locating each of said one or several guided vehicles (1); characterized in that the system (100) further comprises two types of BLE devices, namely BLET1 (101) and BLET2 (102), wherein BLET1 (101) is either a BLE gateway or a BLE beacon, wherein if BLET1 (101) is a BLE gateway, then BLET2 (102) is a BLE beacon, and if BLET1 (101) is a BLE beacon, then BLET2 (102) is a BLE gateway, wherein - at least one BLET1 (101) is configured for being installed at a predefined position on-board each guided vehicle (1); - each BLET2 (102) of a set of BLET2 (102) is configured for being installed each at a predefined position along said track (2); - upon reception of a signal broadcasted by a BLE beacon, each BLE gateway is configured for measuring an intensity of the received signal, and for transmitting in real time to the control subsystem(103) a set of data comprising the intensity value measured for said received signal, a power level data comprised in the received signal and thus associated to said measured intensity value, a time of measurement of said intensity value, a unique identifier of the BLE beacon that broadcasted said received signal, and its unique identifier; - the control subsystem (103) is configured for receiving each set of data, for associating to each set of data a single one of said one or several guided vehicles (1) by identifying the guided vehicle (1) to be associated from at least one unique identifier comprised in said received set of data, and for automatically determining a position of each identified guided vehicle (1) on the track (2) of the railway network from at least two of said measured intensity values and their respectively associated power level data that have been received in connection with the identified guided vehicle.