Decentralized Stopping Time Calculation for Rail Transit
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Solution Overview
Problem
In rail-bound local passenger transport, delays in one train lead to increased passenger loads for that train and reduced loads for subsequent trains, causing operational disruptions due to uneven passenger distribution and vehicle spacing issues.
Innovation Solution
A decentralized stopping time calculation module in each vehicle allows for communication with other vehicles to calculate and adjust extended stopping times based on delays, enabling vehicles to autonomously manage delays without central control, thereby maintaining scheduled distances and passenger distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a centralized control center is used to monitor and control vehicle delays, then comprehensive control of the entire fleet is achieved, but the response time is too slow to compensate for delays of only a few seconds
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized control system is segmented into decentralized on-board control units in each vehicle. Each vehicle independently calculates its own holding time extensions based on received delay information from other vehicles, eliminating the time-consuming centralized processing bottleneck while maintaining coordinated fleet control.
Solution Approach 2:
Vehicles pre-calculate and store holding time extension values for various delay scenarios. When a delay is detected through vehicle-to-vehicle communication, the appropriate pre-calculated extension is immediately applied without requiring real-time centralized computation, enabling rapid response to delays of just a few seconds.
2Stability of the object's composition
If holding time extensions are calculated for all vehicles to maintain scheduled distances, then vehicle spacing is maintained, but communication complexity and data transmission requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each vehicle independently determines its own holding time extension based on local reception of delay information from neighboring vehicles. This localized decision-making approach maintains vehicle spacing stability without requiring complex centralized communication protocols, as each vehicle only needs to communicate with immediate neighbors on the route.
3Productivity
If the stopping time calculation module uses vehicle-to-vehicle communication to autonomously calculate extended stopping times, then response speed increases and small delays can be compensated, but the system requires decentralized coordination without central control
Solution Approach 1:
Each vehicle is equipped with an on-board stopping time calculation module that autonomously determines its own holding time extensions based on delay information received from other vehicles. This self-service approach enables rapid local decision-making for delay compensation without requiring centralized control, as each vehicle independently manages its own scheduling adjustments.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates, among other things, to a stopping-time calculation module (20) for a vehicle (F1, F2, F3, 10), comprising a communication device (30), which enables communication with one or more other vehicles (F1, F2, F3, 10) in order to transmit the vehicle's own travel-related data and/or to receive travel-related data of the other vehicle or vehicles (F1, F2, F3, 10), and an evaluating device (40), which is connected to the communication device (30) and which is suitable for calculating an extended stopping time (T2, T3) that exceeds the stopping time (T0) specified by the schedule in the event of a delay for the current stop or a following stop, in particular the next stop, indicated by the travel-related data of a vehicle (F1, F2, F3, 10) driving ahead or behind on a common route (S, S1, S2) equipped with stops (H1-H4), and for producing a control signal that indicates the calculated stopping time.