Bus Fleet Interchange Control for Constant Headway Operation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic transport operation systems for buses do not effectively manage the interchange of vehicles without disrupting the constant time intervals at which they pass arbitrary points on a path, potentially causing disturbances in service intervals.
Innovation Solution
A transport operation control apparatus that includes instructors to manage the time intervals of multiple vehicles traveling a circuit, allowing for the selection and interchange of vehicles without disrupting the constant passage time at arbitrary points by adjusting the travel paths of replacement vehicles and maintaining consistent intervals among all vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If vehicles are interchanged on a circuit path, then fleet management flexibility is improved, but the time interval at which vehicles pass arbitrary points becomes disturbed
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus determines the interchange plan in advance before vehicles actually interchange. It calculates which vehicles should be interchanged, identifies replacement vehicles, and plans their insertion positions beforehand. This preliminary planning ensures that when interchanges occur, they are coordinated to maintain constant time intervals at arbitrary points on the path.
Solution Approach 2:
The control apparatus acts as an intermediary that coordinates between vehicles to be interchanged and replacement vehicles. It manages the complex timing and positioning by inserting replacement vehicles at specific positions between existing vehicles, ensuring that the interchange process itself maintains the constant time interval requirement rather than disrupting it.
2Adaptability or versatility
If replacement vehicles are inserted between existing vehicles, then fleet composition is updated, but the constant time interval pattern is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus applies different control strategies to different vehicles based on their specific situations. Each replacement vehicle is assigned to a specific position between existing vehicles, and the control instructions are customized for each vehicle's location, speed, and timing requirements. This localized control ensures that each insertion maintains the overall constant time interval pattern.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the positions and speeds of replacement vehicles as they are inserted into the circuit. The control apparatus continuously monitors the actual positions of all vehicles and provides real-time control instructions to maintain constant time intervals, allowing the system to adapt to changing conditions while preserving the stable time interval pattern.
3Productivity
If multiple vehicles are interchanged simultaneously, then operational efficiency is improved, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus divides the interchange operation into manageable segments by handling multiple vehicles in an organized sequence. It determines interchange plans for groups of vehicles simultaneously but executes control instructions in a coordinated manner, breaking down the complex multi-vehicle interchange into controllable segments that can be managed systematically.
Solution Approach 2:
The control apparatus receives actual position information from all vehicles and uses this feedback to adjust control instructions in real-time. This feedback mechanism allows the system to coordinate multiple simultaneous interchanges by continuously monitoring vehicle positions and providing corrective control instructions to maintain constant time intervals throughout the interchange process.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a transport operation control method and apparatus. The method includes determining to interchange a vehicle to be changed selected among a plurality of vehicles with a vehicle for replacement, transmitting an instruction such that the vehicle for replacement travels a circuit between the vehicle to he changed and a vehicle traveling behind, and transmitting an instruction such that over a time period from the vehicle for replacement starting traveling on the path until finishing one lap of the path, In the method, a time interval at which each of all remaining vehicles other than the vehicle to be changed among the plurality of vehicles and the vehicle for replacement passes an arbitrary point on the path becomes approximately constant. The method further includes instructing the vehicle to be changed to leave the path after the vehicle for replacement finishes the lap of the path.