Railway Asset GNSS Controller Power Accuracy Trade-off
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional GNSS-enabled devices for mobile railway assets face limited accuracy due to power constraints, which necessitate a balance between energy consumption and location determination accuracy, often resulting in less precise location data when power is conserved.
Innovation Solution
A controller-managed GNSS circuitry system that operates in power saving, standard accuracy, and higher accuracy modes, allowing extended GNSS data reception periods when more precise location determination is required, utilizing communication circuitry to transmit location data and incorporating stationary gateways for self-surveyed location error data to enhance accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the GNSS receiver is powered frequently to collect ephemeris data and determine location, then location accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic operation modes for the GNSS receiver that adapt to different operational contexts. The system transitions between a first operation mode (lower power consumption, reduced accuracy) and a second operation mode (higher power consumption, higher accuracy) based on detected events such as railcar stopping, thereby optimizing the balance between location accuracy and power consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters of the GNSS receiver by adjusting the duration and frequency of ephemeris data collection based on detected events. When a railcar stopping event is detected, the system extends the GNSS receiver operation duration to collect more ephemeris data, thereby improving location accuracy only when necessary
2Use of energy by moving object
If the GNSS receiver operates infrequently to conserve power, then power consumption is reduced, but location accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic operation of the GNSS receiver rather than continuous operation. The receiver is activated at scheduled intervals and triggered by specific events (such as railcar stopping detected by accelerometers), allowing the system to conserve power while maintaining adequate location accuracy through strategically timed measurements
3Use of energy by moving object
If the GNSS receiver operates in standard accuracy mode, then power consumption is moderate, but location accuracy is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between operation modes based on detected events. When a railcar stopping event is detected, the system transitions from the first operation mode to the second operation mode, extending the GNSS receiver operation duration to collect additional ephemeris data and improve location accuracy from approximately 10 meters to approximately 1 meter
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for locating a mobile railway asset is provided that includes a power source, GNSS circuitry configured to utilize electrical power from the power source to receive GNSS data, and a controller operatively coupled to the power source and the GNSS circuitry. The controller has a power saving mode wherein the controller inhibits the GNSS circuitry from receiving GNSS data and a standard accuracy mode wherein the controller permits the GNSS circuitry to receive GNSS data for a first time period. The controller has a higher accuracy mode wherein the controller permits the GNSS circuitry to receive GNSS data for a second time period longer than the first time period, and subsequently across multiple instances, in order to collect more GNSS data that can be qualified, filtered, sorted, and averaged to produce a more accurate result.