Rail Vehicle Type Identification via Axle Counter Pattern Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional safety technology in rail operations cannot reliably identify the type of rail-guided vehicles, such as passenger or freight trains, which is crucial for safe decision-making, often requiring costly and complex technical and operational methods.
Innovation Solution
A method using an axle counter to detect measurement data, analyzing speed and axle distances, and comparing these to reference patterns to identify the type of train, allowing for flexible adjustment of operational parameters and improved safety measures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional safety technology is used to identify train types, then the system is simple and inexpensive, but the identification reliability is insufficient for safe decision-making
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical and operational identification methods with an automated electronic evaluation system. The axle counter measures physical quantities (axle passage timing, speeds) and a computer automatically evaluates these measurements against reference patterns to identify train types, substituting manual technical methods with an electronic decision-making system that provides both reliability and cost-effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing the axle counter and computer to automatically perform train type identification without requiring external technical methods or operational interventions. The computer autonomously compares measured data with reference patterns and generates identification results, making the system self-sufficient while maintaining high reliability
2Measurement precision
If additional sensor systems and complex methods are deployed to reliably identify train types, then identification accuracy improves, but hardware and computational costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies of physical measurement data by generating reference patterns that represent typical train types. Instead of adding physical sensors, the system copies the essential characteristics of train types into digital reference patterns, which can be repeatedly compared against new measurements without additional hardware costs, achieving high accuracy through information copying rather than physical duplication
Solution Approach 2:
The axle counter and computer system serve multiple functions: they detect axle passages, measure speeds, generate reference patterns, compare measurements against patterns, and identify train types. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate specialized equipment for each function, reducing overall hardware and software expenditure while maintaining high measurement precision
Data Source
AI summary
A method for identifying properties of rail-guided vehicles uses an axle counter to detect vehicle measurement data as the vehicle crosses. The measurement data are analyzed in a computer and speed and distances between vehicle axles are ascertained. A property of the vehicle is ascertained in a computer based on the ascertained speed and distances between axles. A checking step ascertains a pattern of normal distances between axles in that a normal distance between axles calculated by considering a predefined normal speed is assigned to each ascertained distance between axles, and by considering their order, the normal distances between axles merge to form the pattern. The pattern is compared with reference patterns, and upon identified conformity of the pattern and reference pattern, a type linked to the reference pattern is assigned to the vehicle as a property. An apparatus and computer program determining properties of vehicles are also provided.