TACS Train Interval Protection via Onboard Zone Calculation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional communication-based train control (CBTC) systems in rail transit have inefficiencies in train-ground communication, leading to low space and time utilization, and do not effectively manage real-time interval protection between trains.

Innovation Solution

A train autonomous control system (TACS) based on train-to-train communication, where carborne controllers calculate and manage train guaranteed zones and resource allocation, simplifying wayside equipment and improving resource management and safety interval protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a conventional CBTC system with ground equipment is used for train control, then train-ground communication can be established, but communication efficiency is low and space utilization is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidground equipment
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the core control function from ground equipment and relocates it to onboard equipment. The wayside equipment no longer performs complex control calculations but only provides basic service functions, thereby improving communication efficiency and reducing ground equipment complexity while maintaining train control capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The onboard equipment autonomously calculates movement authority and performs interval protection control without relying on ground equipment for these functions. The train independently manages its own control decisions based on received service information, achieving self-service and eliminating the need for complex ground-based control processing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If wayside equipment collects and calculates train information for interval protection, then interval protection can be provided, but time utilization is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterval protectionVSAvoidtime utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The interval protection calculation function is extracted from wayside equipment and transferred to onboard equipment. The wayside equipment only collects and transmits basic train information, while the onboard equipment performs real-time interval protection calculations, significantly improving time utilization while maintaining protection reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of ground equipment actively collecting and calculating train information for protection, the system inverts the approach by having onboard equipment autonomously calculate protection based on service information received from wayside. This inversion enables real-time processing and improves time utilization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Productivity

If train-to-train communication is implemented for autonomous control, then resource management is improved, but communication between trains must be reliably established

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource management efficiencyVSAvoidtrain-to-train communication
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The wayside equipment serves as an intermediary that provides service information to trains, while trains communicate directly with each other for control decisions. This intermediary approach enables reliable resource management through centralized information distribution while maintaining direct train-to-train communication for autonomous control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments communication functions into two parts: service information transmission through wayside equipment and control negotiation through direct train-to-train communication. This segmentation allows resource management efficiency to be improved through direct train communication while reliability is maintained through the structured intermediary information channel

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4159578B1Train interval protection control method and apparatus based on TACS system
Publication Date: 2025.03.05 CASCO SIGNAL LTD
  • EP4159578B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4159578B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4159578B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a train autonomous control system (TACS) based method for train interval protection control, and an apparatus for the method. The method includes: step one: receiving, by a carborne controller (CC), a train operation command sent by an automatic train supervision (ATS) system to obtain a movement mission; step two: calculating, by the CC, a train guaranteed zone in real time according to information of train localization, car characteristics, and carborne controller characteristics; step three: calculating, by the CC, track resources required to be used in combination with current mission information according to the train guaranteed zone, and requesting to a wayside information control (WSIC) for information of collided trains occupying these track resources; and step four: sending, by the WSIC, a list of the collided trains on the track resources required to be used to the CC according to information of the track resources required to be occupied by a train on a whole line. Compared to the prior art, the present disclosure has the advantages of high operation efficiency, communication resource saving, reliability, safety, etc.