Road User Inflow Control Using Time-Period Capacity Windows
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for managing traffic flow onto capacity-limited infrastructures, such as airports and ports, result in unnecessary fuel consumption, environmental damage, and increased workload due to inaccuracies and disruptions, leading to inefficient utilization of available time slots.
Innovation Solution
A method that divides the traffic space into time periods with assigned maximum capacities, determines utilization indicators based on positional information, and adjusts the speed and/or route of road users to optimize traffic flow, minimizing interventions and resource consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If road users are constantly corrected to adhere to 4D trajectories, then the precision of target time compliance is improved, but energy consumption increases due to continuous acceleration and deceleration
Solution Approach 1:
The traffic flow is segmented into discrete time periods with defined capacity limits. Instead of continuous correction along 4D trajectories, the system divides the approach into time slots (e.g., T-30min, T-20min, T-10min, T-0min) where each slot has a maximum capacity. This segmentation allows road users to maintain more stable speeds within each time period rather than constant acceleration/deceleration corrections.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary capacity assessment and trajectory adjustment before road users reach the infrastructure. By calculating expected arrival times and comparing them against capacity-limited time periods in advance, the system can issue speed adjustment recommendations proactively. This prevents last-minute corrections that would cause energy-intensive acceleration and deceleration cycles.
2Productivity
If 4D trajectory control is implemented to manage traffic flow, then infrastructure capacity utilization is improved, but system complexity and controller workload increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The complex 4D trajectory calculation and continuous monitoring functions are extracted from the tactical control system and replaced with a simpler time-period capacity assessment mechanism. The system only needs to determine which time period a road user will enter and whether that period has available capacity, rather than continuously calculating and correcting full 4D trajectories. This extraction significantly reduces computational complexity and controller workload.
Solution Approach 2:
The control approach changes from continuous 4D parameter management (position, speed, acceleration, time) to discrete time-period capacity parameters. Instead of managing four continuous dimensions, the system uses simplified parameters: time period identifier, capacity limit per period, and binary compliance check. This parameter simplification reduces system complexity while maintaining effective traffic flow management.
3Reliability
If excess traffic is stored in holding patterns or route extensions upstream of the infrastructure, then infrastructure overload is prevented, but fuel consumption and environmental damage increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of allowing infrastructure overload and then managing hold patterns, the system performs preliminary capacity checks against divided time periods. By assessing whether a time period has available capacity before the road user reaches the infrastructure, the system can provide early speed adjustment recommendations. This prevents the need for holding patterns and route extensions, thereby avoiding the associated fuel consumption and environmental damage.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for controlling the flow of a plurality of road users moving towards a capacity-limited infrastructure within a defined traffic area, the method comprising the following steps: - providing a temporal division of the traffic area into a plurality of time periods starting from the capacity-limited infrastructure, wherein each time period defines a time window that indicates the duration until arrival at the capacity-limited infrastructure, and each time period is assigned a maximum capacity, - determining a utilization indicator at a specific time for each time period depending on position information of the road users and the maximum capacity of the respective time period, and - controlling the road users depending on the utilization indicators of the time periods.