On-Board Rail Vehicle Action Recommendation System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for providing action recommendations to rail vehicle drivers lack high accuracy and reliability, particularly in environments with network dead spots or malfunctions.

Innovation Solution

A system that calculates action recommendations using an on-board device with a processing unit, which can generate recommendations based on input data when a wireless connection is unavailable, utilizing a simpler algorithm and leveraging existing onboard computing resources, and combines this with a remote source for high accuracy and reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a remote source with high computational capability is used to calculate action recommendations, then the accuracy and reliability of recommendations are improved, but the device complexity and dependency on wireless network increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of action recommendationsVSAvoidcomplexity of system architecture
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into two independent parts: a remote source with high computational capability for accurate calculations, and a simple on-board device for local execution. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the remote source provides high accuracy while the on-board device maintains simplicity and network independence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The on-board device acts as an intermediary between the driver and the remote source. It receives recommendations from the remote source via wireless communication and presents them to the driver, while also having the capability to generate recommendations independently when network connection is unavailable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If a complex calculation algorithm is used to ensure high accuracy of action recommendations, then the precision of recommendations is improved, but the computational resources and processing time required increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecision of action recommendationsVSAvoidcomputational energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial action by using a simplified calculation algorithm on the on-board device that provides sufficient accuracy for practical purposes without requiring the full computational power of the remote source. This partial calculation approach balances precision needs with energy consumption constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Ease of operation

If the on-board device uses a simplified calculation algorithm to reduce computational complexity, then the ease of operation and network independence are improved, but the accuracy of action recommendations may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependence from wireless networkVSAvoidaccuracy of action recommendations
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system prepares for network failures by pre-configuring the on-board device with the capability to calculate action recommendations independently using simplified algorithms. This beforehand cushioning ensures that when wireless network connection is unavailable, the system can continue to provide accurate enough recommendations without requiring complex calculations or network dependency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentEP4067197B1System for and method of providing action recommendations to a driver of a rail vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.07.16 KNORR BREMSE SYST FUR SCHIENENFAHRZEUGE GMBH
  • EP4067197B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The present invention relates to a system for providing action recommendations to a driver of a rail vehicle (10) and a method of providing these action recommendations. The system comprises an on-board device (14) having at least a communication interface (18) for communicating action recommendations to the driver. The on-board device (14) thereby comprises a mobile communication module (22) for communicating via a wireless network (26) with a remote source (30) provided offboard the rail vehicle (10), in order to output the action recommendations to the driver. The remote source (30) comprises a calculation means (34) for calculating the action recommendations for the on-board device (14) based on current input data of the rail vehicle (10), wherein the on-board device (14) comprises a processing unit (38) calculating the action recommendations, in case that action recommendations of the remote source (30) are missing. On-board calculations is based on algorithm with lower complexity than offboard calculation.