Rail Timetable Padding Allocation for Energy Saving and Transfers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Distributing extra schedule padding to sections between stations with high energy-saving potential can lower train passenger convenience, potentially causing issues like poor transfer connections and uneven train intervals.
Innovation Solution
A timetable creating device that distributes schedule padding based on energy characteristics of train sections while considering change ranges of arrival and departure times to maintain passenger convenience, using a schedule padding distribution deciding unit, change range storage unit, and timetable creating unit to set arrival and departure times within acceptable limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If extra schedule padding is distributed to sections between stations with high energy-saving effect, then energy-saving effect is enhanced, but train passenger convenience is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating schedule padding distribution across different sections based on their energy-saving potential. Sections with high energy-saving effects (e.g., down slopes, few curves) receive more padding, while sections with low energy-saving effects (e.g., up slopes, many curves) receive less padding. This localized approach maximizes energy savings in suitable sections while maintaining operational reliability in critical sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of schedule padding distribution from a uniform approach to a variable approach based on section characteristics. By adjusting the amount of padding assigned to each section according to its energy-saving potential, the system optimizes the balance between energy consumption and operational reliability.
2Loss of energy
If schedule padding is increased in certain sections, then energy-saving effect is improved, but arrival and departure times may fall outside acceptable change ranges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring whether the calculated arrival and departure times fall within the pre-defined acceptable change ranges. If times exceed these ranges, the system adjusts the schedule padding distribution accordingly, ensuring that timetable reliability is maintained while still achieving energy-saving goals within acceptable boundaries.
Data Source
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Figure 4A~4C
AI summary
A timetable creating device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a schedule padding distribution deciding unit that distributes, to sections between stations, schedule padding in accordance with energy characteristics of traveling trains correlated with sections between stations, a change range storage unit that stores information of change ranges of arrival and departure times at each station, in which magnitude of effects on passenger convenience regarding changing trains is reflected, and a timetable creating unit that sets arrival and departure times at each station on the basis of the schedule padding distributed by the schedule padding distribution deciding unit. The schedule padding distribution deciding unit distributes, to sections between stations, schedule padding that enables the arrival and departure times at each station to be contained within the change range of arrival and departure times of each station.