On-rail Train Management Using FILO ID Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Train control systems using wireless communication face challenges in managing trains within rail yards where wireless communication between on-board and ground apparatuses is impossible or difficult, such as in areas with no coverage or when trains are being inspected, leading to difficulties in identifying train positions and formation configurations.
Innovation Solution
An on-rail train management system that employs an on-board apparatus and a ground apparatus, where the on-board apparatus stores and transmits vehicle-formation-set IDs, and the ground apparatus uses a FILO method to manage entering and leaving trains, performing alarm and emergency stop controls when communication is lost, ensuring proper train configuration and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wireless communication is used for train control systems, then train control and management in commercial operation is improved, but train management becomes impossible or difficult in areas with no wireless coverage such as rail yard buildings
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides train management into two independent parts: wireless communication for commercial operation and on-board storage for rail yard operations. Each vehicle-formation-set maintains its own ID storage capability, allowing it to function independently whether wireless communication is available or not.
Solution Approach 2:
The on-board apparatus stores vehicle-formation-set IDs in advance before entering the building. This preliminary storage ensures that even when wireless communication becomes unavailable, the system retains critical identification information needed for train management and safety operations.
2Ease of manufacture
If trains are parked in buildings for inspection or formation operations, then maintenance and formation flexibility is improved, but wireless communication becomes impossible leading to loss of train position identification
Solution Approach 1:
Each vehicle-formation-set's on-board apparatus serves itself by storing its own ID information locally. This self-service capability eliminates dependence on external wireless communication systems for basic identification, allowing trains to be properly identified and tracked even when parked in buildings without wireless coverage.
3Manufacturing precision
If the ground apparatus stores train IDs using FILO method, then proper train formation verification is improved, but system complexity increases due to additional storage and retrieval mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The on-board apparatus acts as an intermediary that maintains the vehicle-formation-set ID list and provides it to the ground apparatus when requested. This intermediary role simplifies the ground apparatus by eliminating the need for complex FILO storage management, while still enabling accurate train formation verification through the on-board stored information.
Data Source
AI summary
When there is a train entering a building of a rail yard, a ground apparatus stores vehicle-formation-set IDs of respective vehicle-formation-sets of the train in the entering order by a FILO method. Additionally, when there is the train leaving the building, the vehicle-formation-set IDs are sequentially read by the FILO method, an inquiry addressed to the vehicle-formation-set IDs is transmitted in the order of the reading to obtain the train information from the on-board apparatus of each of the vehicle-formation-sets forming the train. When the on-board apparatus does not respond to the inquiry, and obtaining of the train information fails, the ground apparatus performs a predetermined alarm output control.