Dynamic Convoy Spacing Control for Coupler Force Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems lack effective methods for dynamically controlling inter-vehicle spacings in convoys of vehicles to optimize movement and reduce forces on couplers, leading to inefficient handling and potential operational challenges.
Innovation Solution
A convoy management system that uses processors to determine and dynamically adjust inter-vehicle spacings based on forecasted forces, allowing controllers to change movement settings and order of vehicles to maintain optimal spacings along routes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If vehicles travel in fixed formations without dynamic spacing adjustment, then convoy structure is simple to maintain, but coupler forces and energies increase leading to poor handling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic spacing adjustment between vehicles in a convoy, where the distance between adjacent vehicles is continuously modified based on real-time conditions. This dynamic approach reduces coupler forces and energies while improving handling, directly resolving the contradiction between maintaining simple convoy structure and reducing mechanical stresses.
2Ease of operation
If inter-vehicle spacing is dynamically adjusted based on forecasted forces, then coupler forces are reduced improving handling, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs forecasted forces to predict future spacing requirements before they become critical. By calculating anticipated coupling forces and adjusting spacing in advance, the system prevents excessive coupler stresses without requiring complex real-time reactive control, thus improving handling while managing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors actual spacing and coupler forces, comparing them against forecasted values, and adjusts spacing accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables automatic optimization of inter-vehicle spacing to reduce coupler forces while maintaining manageable system complexity through closed-loop control.
3Productivity
If convoy spacing is maintained statically, then control system is simpler, but abrupt movements occur reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from static to dynamic spacing control, where inter-vehicle distances are continuously adjusted based on forecasted forces and actual conditions. This dynamic adjustment prevents abrupt movements and improves convoy efficiency by smoothing out changes in spacing, directly addressing the productivity improvement while managing control complexity.
4Reliability
If inter-vehicle spacing is dynamically optimized, then coupler energies are reduced improving stability, but measurement and detection difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent calculates forecasted coupling forces based on known vehicle parameters, terrain information, and operational conditions before actual convoy movement. This preliminary calculation of expected forces enables proactive spacing optimization to reduce coupler energies and improve stability without requiring complex real-time force measurement systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A convoy management system and method determine determining an inter-vehicle spacing in a convoy formed from two or more vehicles traveling together along one or more routes. Controllers onboard the two or more vehicles are instructed to automatically change movement of at least one of the vehicles in the convoy to maintain the inter-vehicle spacing. The inter vehicle spacing is dynamically changed during movement of the convoy along the one or more routes.