Circuit Vehicle Return Control With Post-Stop Boarding Restriction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicle traffic systems, passengers may not be able to alight at their desired stop when vehicles are controlled to go to a waiting place instead, leading to inconvenient alighting at unintended stops.
Innovation Solution
A transport operation control apparatus and method that selects a vehicle to return to a depot and instructs it to restrict boarding after passing a specific stop, allowing passengers to alight at their desired stop by controlling vehicles traveling in a circuit along a predetermined path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a vehicle is controlled to go to a waiting place instead of serving all stops, then the number of vehicles in service can be reduced, but passengers cannot alight at their desired stop
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by notifying passengers in advance about boarding restrictions before the vehicle reaches their desired stop. The notification is provided at stops where boarding is allowed, enabling passengers to make informed decisions about whether to board or wait for the next vehicle, thus preventing the contradiction from manifesting.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by providing real-time information to passengers about the vehicle's destination and boarding status. This feedback loop allows passengers to understand the situation and adjust their behavior accordingly, resolving the contradiction between reduced vehicle service and passenger convenience.
2Ease of operation
If a vehicle restricts boarding after passing a stop, then passengers can alight at their desired stop, but the vehicle operation becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The control system performs multiple functions using a single integrated mechanism. It simultaneously manages vehicle routing to waiting places, enforces boarding restrictions at specific stops, and provides passenger notifications, thereby reducing overall system complexity despite the added functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts boarding restrictions based on the vehicle's current position and destination. The boarding permission changes from allowed to restricted automatically as the vehicle passes predetermined stops, providing flexibility without requiring complex manual intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
A transport operation control apparatus that controls transport operation of a plurality of vehicles traveling a circuit in a single direction along a predetermined path while repeating stopping at each stop on the path executes a step of selecting any vehicle among the plurality of vehicles as a vehicle to return to a depot, and a step of transmitting to the selected vehicle an instruction requesting the selected vehicle to restrict boarding, after the selected vehicle passes a stop at which the selected vehicle stops first subsequently to passing a starting point that is an exit of the depot and before the selected vehicle arrives at a next stop.