Distributed Train Traction and Braking Control for Slack Action
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle traction and braking control systems have limited capacity to manage slack action and longitudinal forces between vehicles, particularly on difficult route profiles, leading to dangerous stresses and accident risks, and rely on driver interpretation of predictive information.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system with a lead and trailing vehicle, each equipped with a control unit that includes sensors, processors, and communication systems to manage traction and braking based on operational objectives, such as reducing dynamic stresses, by generating command signals for traction and braking devices and providing instructions to operators to ensure consistency with these objectives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a driver-operated control system is used, then the system is simple to operate, but the capacity to control slack action and longitudinal forces is limited
Solution Approach 1:
A communication system acts as an intermediary between the driver and the braking devices of trailing vehicles. The system transmits braking commands from the driver to all vehicles in the train, enabling coordinated braking across the entire vehicle system without requiring the driver to manually control each vehicle.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is segmented into independent control units distributed across multiple vehicles. Each vehicle has its own control unit that can independently execute braking commands, allowing decentralized control while maintaining system-wide coordination through the communication network.
2Loss of information
If predictive information is provided to the driver, then the driver can interpret and give commands, but the system fails to address slack action control on difficult route profiles
Solution Approach 1:
The control system automatically executes braking commands without requiring driver interpretation or manual intervention. The system self-manages the braking process by directly transmitting commands from the driver to all vehicles and automatically controlling the braking devices, eliminating the information loss associated with driver interpretation.
3Stress or pressure
If autonomous control of trailing vehicles is implemented, then dynamic stresses are reduced, but the complexity of the control system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control units in trailing vehicles are designed to be multi-functional, serving both as communication receivers for braking commands and as autonomous controllers for executing those commands. This universal design reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity.
4Stability of the object's composition
If braking commands are transmitted to all vehicles, then coordinated braking is achieved, but the communication infrastructure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication system serves as an intermediary infrastructure that simplifies the transmission of braking commands. By establishing a standardized communication protocol and network architecture, the system achieves coordinated braking across all vehicles without requiring complex point-to-point communication links between each vehicle.
Data Source
AI summary
A system that includes a first control unit having one or more processors. The one or more processors may operate a first traction control unit and a first braking device of a first vehicle of a vehicle system based on an operator input command signal. The system also includes a second control unit in communication with the first control unit and having one or more processors configured to operate a second traction device and a second braking device of a second vehicle of the vehicle system based on at least one operational objective of the vehicle system.