Train Floor Height Pre-Adjustment for Level Boarding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for adjusting the vehicle floor height to match platform level at stations cause undesired downtime by delaying door opening, especially in high-speed trains, due to post-arrival adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that adjusts the floor height of a passenger vehicle relative to the platform level in advance by using an electronic controller and positioning device to calculate proximity to the stop and command height adjustments while en route, ensuring the door threshold is levelled with the platform before arrival.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the floor height is adjusted after the vehicle has reached and stopped at the platform station, then the door threshold can be levelled with the platform to facilitate passenger boarding, but this causes undesired downtime and delays door opening authorization
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the floor height adjustment action in advance, while the vehicle is still moving and within a predetermined distance from the platform station. The electronic controller receives positioning signals, calculates the distance to the station, and commands the floor height adjustment before the vehicle arrives and stops, so that the adjustment is complete and the door can be opened immediately upon arrival, eliminating the downtime caused by post-arrival adjustments
2Productivity
If the floor height is adjusted while the vehicle is travelling within predetermined distance from the platform station, then the door opening authorization is not delayed and productivity is improved, but the system complexity increases due to positioning devices and electronic controllers
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic controller and positioning device are integrated into the existing vehicle control system, serving multiple functions: the positioning device provides location information for both navigation and floor height adjustment timing, while the electronic controller manages both vehicle operation and suspension system control. This multi-functionality approach avoids adding separate dedicated systems, thereby minimizing the increase in overall system complexity while enabling the pre-adjustment capability
3Loss of time
If the floor height adjustment is commanded while the passenger vehicle is travelling, then the adjustment is completed before arrival eliminating downtime, but the adjustment must be precisely timed based on actual position calculation
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously receives actual position signals from the positioning device and uses this feedback to dynamically calculate the distance to the platform station. Based on this real-time feedback, the electronic controller determines the optimal moment to command the floor height adjustment, ensuring the adjustment is completed precisely when needed for door opening, thereby minimizing waiting time while maintaining accurate positioning control
Data Source
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AI summary
System (1) for adjusting the height of the floor (204) of a passenger vehicle (200) relative to the platform level of a stopping station, the system comprising: - an electronic controller (3); - a positioning device (5) providing the electronic controller (3), with signals (SP) indicative of the actual position of the passenger vehicle along a travel route. The electronic controller is configured to: - receive the actual position of the passenger vehicle along the travel route based on the signals provided by the positioning device; - calculate if the actual position of the passenger vehicle is within a predetermined distance from a platform station (202) at which the passenger vehicle is scheduled to stop; and, - only when it is verified that the passenger vehicle is within the predetermined distance, issue a signal (Sc) to command, while the passenger vehicle is travelling, the adjustment of the floor height of the passenger vehicle relative to the level of the platform station where the passenger vehicle is going to arrive and stop.