Rail Vehicle Driver Assistance System for Performance Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional driver assistance systems for rail vehicles are limited in optimizing operations in complex networks, especially when conditions change rapidly or when information about the overall system is incomplete, as they primarily provide specific driving recommendations rather than feedback on the driver's performance.

Innovation Solution

A method that involves storing data from previous journeys, detecting current operating and state parameters, determining similar trips, comparing target values, and providing feedback on the driver's performance to help them improve their driving strategy, while allowing for specific recommendations and other information to be displayed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional driver assistance systems provide specific driving recommendations, then drivers receive guidance on optimal driving strategy, but drivers do not understand or learn how good their current driving style is

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriving strategy guidanceVSAvoiddriver performance feedback
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a feedback mechanism that compares the driver's actual driving behavior with recommended driving behavior and provides information about the quality of the driving style. This allows drivers to understand how good their current driving style is and learn to improve it, while still receiving specific driving recommendations when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If driver assistance systems use scheduled traffic optimization, then operations are optimized in delimited networks, but systems have limits when general conditions change rapidly or information is incomplete

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational optimizationVSAvoidadaptability to changing conditions
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts to changing conditions by continuously monitoring actual driving behavior and adjusting recommendations in real-time. It uses recorded data from previous journeys to learn from past performance and adapts to incomplete information by making optimized decisions based on available data, rather than relying solely on pre-scheduled traffic patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system records and stores data from previous journeys, including actual and recommended driving behavior. This preliminary data collection and analysis enables the system to learn from past experiences and improve future recommendations, allowing it to adapt to changing conditions more effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If driver assistance systems provide only specific driving recommendations, then drivers receive actionable guidance, but drivers cannot learn or understand the quality of their driving style

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriving guidanceVSAvoiddriver skill improvement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides dual functionality: it gives specific driving recommendations for immediate actionable guidance, and simultaneously provides feedback on the quality of the driver's current driving style by comparing actual vs. recommended behavior. This feedback loop enables drivers to learn and understand their driving quality while maintaining ease of operation through clear recommendations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3398828B1Driver assistance system and method for supporting a driver of a rail vehicle
Publication Date: 2019.12.11 KNORR BREMSE SYST FUR SCHIENENFAHRZEUGE GMBH
  • EP3398828B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3398828B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for supporting a train driver (10) is proposed, in which the driver's current driving style is compared with previous journeys and these comparison results (V) are then evaluated. The comparison results (V) and the evaluation result (G) are subsequently displayed to the driver by a driver assistance system (12) of the train driver (10), so that the driver can adjust or improve their driving style accordingly.