Rail Vehicle Positioning via Beacon-Feedback Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining the position of rail-bound vehicles suffer from inaccuracies due to errors in wheel diameter measurements, leading to costly solutions like increased maintenance intervals or shorter beacon spacing.
Innovation Solution
Determine multiple first and second distance values between route points using different methods, form distance value pairs, and calculate a common correction value to minimize differences, which can be continuously updated to compensate for wheel diameter changes and other errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If wheel diameter measurements are used for position determination, then position determination can be performed continuously, but measurement precision deteriorates due to errors in wheel diameter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously comparing the distance measured by the distance measuring device (based on wheel diameter) with the distance calculated from beacon position differences. The correction value derived from this comparison is then fed back to adjust future position determinations, creating a closed-loop system that maintains both continuous operation and high precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter used for position determination by introducing a correction value that adjusts the effective wheel diameter or distance measurements. Instead of relying solely on the fixed wheel diameter parameter, the system dynamically modifies this parameter based on actual beacon-based measurements, thereby maintaining precision while enabling continuous determination.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If maintenance intervals are increased to compensate for inaccuracy, then operational continuity improves, but measurement precision worsens due to accumulated errors
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback mechanism continuously monitors position determination accuracy by comparing wheel-based distance measurements with beacon-based distance calculations. This real-time feedback allows the system to maintain precision over extended periods without maintenance by automatically detecting and correcting drift, thereby enabling both longer maintenance intervals and sustained accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-correction by automatically generating and applying correction values based on the difference between measured and calculated distances. This self-service capability eliminates the need for frequent manual maintenance interventions while preserving measurement precision, as the system autonomously compensates for accumulated errors.
3Measurement precision
If beacon spacing is shortened to improve accuracy, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases due to more beacons required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the effective parameter for accuracy by introducing a correction value that compensates for wheel diameter errors. This allows the system to maintain high position determination accuracy even with larger beacon spacing, as the correction value弥补 the measurement errors that would otherwise require denser beacon placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The correction value acts as an intermediary that mediates between the wheel-based distance measurement and the beacon-based position reference. By introducing this intermediate correction layer, the system can achieve high precision without requiring the complex infrastructure of closely spaced beacons, as the correction value absorbs the measurement uncertainties.
4Measurement precision
If correction values are continuously updated to maintain accuracy, then measurement precision improves, but loss of time increases due to additional processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial correction by updating correction values only when necessary, based on the comparison between measured and calculated distances. Rather than continuously recalculating correction values at every position determination, the system performs updates selectively, thereby maintaining precision while minimizing the time loss associated with correction processing.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for determining the position of a track-bound vehicle (1), in which several first distance values (X) for different distances (11) between each pair of track points (A, B, C, D) on a travel path (2) of the vehicle (1) are determined in a first way, in which several second distance values (Y) for the different distances (11) between each pair of track points (A, B, C, D) are determined in a second way different from the first, in which several pairs of distance values are formed from each of the first distance value (X) and the second distance value (Y) for the distance between the same two track points (A, B, C, D), in which at least one common correction value (K) is determined for the several pairs of distance values for which the difference across the several pairs of distance values is minimal, and in which the determined correction value (K) is used in determining the position of the vehicle (1).The invention has the advantage of enabling more precise position determination. The invention also relates to a device for determining the position of a track-bound vehicle.