Infrastructure Detector for Rail Vehicle Position Monitoring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring the position of parked rail-guided vehicles are limited in accuracy and energy efficiency, as they require the vehicle control unit to remain switched on, consuming battery power and are not effective for determining changes in location beyond a few meters with low resolution.
Innovation Solution
An infrastructure-side monitoring system using a detector with a sensor device and communication device to externally detect and communicate changes in the location of parked vehicles, allowing the vehicle control unit to be switched off without losing location information, using sensors like radar, ultrasonic, or optical image sensors to determine location changes with centimeter or decimeter resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the vehicle control unit remains switched on to retain location information, then the location information is preserved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an infrastructure-side detector as an intermediary between the vehicle control unit and the location monitoring function. The detector continuously monitors vehicle location using sensors (radar, ultrasonic, or optical) and communicates position data to the vehicle control unit when it is switched off, eliminating the need for the control unit to remain powered on while preserving location information.
Solution Approach 2:
The infrastructure-side detector performs self-service by autonomously monitoring vehicle location and maintaining position data without requiring the vehicle control unit to be active. The detector independently detects vehicle position changes and can provide this information to the vehicle control unit when needed, freeing the control unit from continuous operation.
2Measurement precision
If known track vacancy detection devices are used to determine vehicle position, then the vehicle position can be detected, but the accuracy is limited to a few meters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical or electrical track vacancy detection devices with sensor-based detection systems (radar, ultrasonic, or optical sensors). These sensors provide non-contact measurement of vehicle position with centimeter or decimeter accuracy, significantly improving measurement precision while being applicable to various vehicle types and lengths.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the vehicle control unit is switched off to conserve energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but the vehicle location information is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The infrastructure-side detector serves as an intermediary that maintains vehicle location information independently of the vehicle control unit's power state. The detector continuously tracks vehicle position and can communicate this information to the control unit when it is switched on again, preventing information loss while allowing energy conservation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent shifts the location monitoring function from the vehicle's internal control unit to an external infrastructure-side detector, moving the monitoring capability to a different dimension (external vs. internal). This allows the vehicle control unit to be switched off while location monitoring continues through the external detector.
4Productivity
If the vehicle control unit remains switched on, then immediate automatic operation is possible, but the battery power is depleted after limited hours
Solution Approach 1:
The infrastructure-side detector acts as an intermediary that maintains vehicle location information and can quickly provide it to the vehicle control unit when switched on. This eliminates the need for the control unit to remain continuously powered, extending operational duration while maintaining productivity through rapid reactivation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The infrastructure-side detector performs preliminary action by continuously monitoring and storing vehicle location information in advance. When the vehicle control unit is switched on again, the location information is already available, enabling immediate automatic operation without requiring the control unit to have been continuously powered.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables rail-guided vehicles to resume automatic operation immediately after being switched on, without the need for initialization, while conserving energy by allowing the vehicle control unit to remain off, and provides accurate location information to third parties for decision-making.
Implementation Method 1
sensors like radar, ultrasonic, or optical image sensors
Implementation Method 2
sensors like radar, ultrasonic, or optical image sensors
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
A device for infrastructure-side monitoring of a position of a stabled rail-based vehicle includes a detector for infrastructure-side detection of a change of location of the stabled vehicle and a communications entity or device configured to communicate the detected change in location over a communications network to a user of the communications network. A corresponding method, a corresponding system, a method for operating the system and a computer program product are also provided.