Locomotive Operator Management System for Command Regulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle control systems lack the ability to intelligently regulate operator commands based on detected operating conditions, leading to potential unsafe operations and mechanical wear, especially in complex consist scenarios where multiple vehicles are connected.
Innovation Solution
An operator management (OM) system that electronically interposes between the operator controller and the local vehicle control system, receiving operator commands and modifying them based on trigger conditions and external sensor data to ensure safe and efficient vehicle operation, including braking, motoring, and direction control, thereby minimizing mechanical stress and enhancing reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If operator commands are transmitted directly to the vehicle control system without modification, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to potential unsafe operations and mechanical wear
Solution Approach 1:
The OM controller is logically interposed between the operator controller and the local vehicle control system, acting as an intermediary that receives operator commands, evaluates them against trigger conditions and external conditions, and generates modified operator commands when necessary to prevent unsafe operations while maintaining operational ease
2Reliability
If the OM controller modifies operator commands based on trigger conditions and external conditions, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into distinct functional components: the operator controller for command input, the OM controller for evaluation and modification logic, and the local vehicle control system for execution. This segmentation allows the complexity of command modification to be isolated in the OM controller without overwhelming the entire system
3Reliability
If the OM controller evaluates operator commands against multiple trigger conditions and external conditions, then the reliability is improved, but the processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The OM controller is pre-configured with trigger conditions and evaluation criteria before operation. This preliminary setup allows the controller to quickly evaluate incoming operator commands against predetermined conditions without requiring complex real-time analysis, thus maintaining fast response times while ensuring reliable operation
Data Source
AI summary
A locomotive control system includes an operation manager controller electrically coupled to an operator controller of a locomotive and to a local vehicle control system of the locomotive. The operation manager controller receives an operator command from the operator controller and can regulate the operator command to control operation of the locomotive.