Consist Controller Command Allocation for Hybrid Vehicle Trains
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle communication systems face challenges in coordinating vehicles with different power sources, such as fuel-powered and electric vehicles, leading to bandwidth congestion and the need for costly hardware/software upgrades to control each vehicle individually, which is expensive and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control system that utilizes a consist controller to allocate commands differently between fuel-based and electric vehicles within a consist, using existing communication channels to send repeated, periodic, and low-rate information, allowing vehicles to operate efficiently without additional hardware or software.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If individual control of each vehicle is implemented to achieve fuel efficiency, then fuel efficiency is improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to requiring additional hardware and software in every vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments control functions by creating a distinction between leadsman vehicles (which receive detailed individual control commands) and non-leadsman vehicles (which receive consolidated group commands). This segmentation allows individualized control where needed while using simplified group control elsewhere, reducing overall system complexity without sacrificing fuel efficiency optimization capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary control layer that consolidates commands for groups of non-leadsman vehicles. Instead of directly controlling each vehicle individually, the system uses intermediate command groups that can be applied to multiple vehicles simultaneously, reducing the total number of control signals needed while still enabling differentiated control strategies for different vehicle types.
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive communication network is deployed to control each vehicle individually, then control precision is improved, but loss of information increases due to bandwidth congestion from large number of communications
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges control commands for multiple non-leadsman vehicles into single consolidated command groups. By combining control instructions that apply to multiple vehicles into one communication event, the system maintains precise control over each vehicle's operation while dramatically reducing the total volume of communications required, thereby preventing bandwidth congestion.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic updating of control commands where consolidated command groups are transmitted at scheduled intervals rather than continuously. This periodic action allows the communication system to maintain synchronization across all vehicles while using bandwidth efficiently, preventing congestion by limiting communication frequency to what is actually necessary for maintaining control precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided that may include receiving consist commands from a vehicle system controller at a consist controller onboard at least one consist of a multi-vehicle system. The consist commands may direct one or more of a power call or a braking call by the at least one consist. The method may include determining individual vehicle commands for each of an electric vehicle and a fuel-based vehicle in the at least one consist. The individual vehicle commands may be determined to achieve the power or braking call from the at least one consist. The individual vehicle command for the electric vehicle may differ from the individual vehicle command for the fuel-based vehicle. The method may include controlling motoring or braking of the electric vehicle and the fuel-based vehicle by communicating the individual vehicle commands to the electric vehicle and the fuel-based vehicle.