Railway Turnout Priority Control for Schedule-Based Conflict Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing train running control systems based on vehicle-to-vehicle communication struggle to prevent turnout conflicts when trains arrive ahead of or behind schedule, leading to potential delays and reduced operational efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method to determine a priority user for a turnout based on arrival information of trains at their next parking stations, considering factors such as schedule adherence and running speed, to grant access to the turnout efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the target control device uses a reasonable control mechanism to ensure that only one vehicle can use the turnout at a certain moment, then turnout conflict is prevented, but train punctuality deteriorates when trains arrive ahead of or behind schedule
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of priority determination from static (fixed control mechanism) to dynamic (based on actual train arrival status relative to schedule). The control device calculates whether each train arrives ahead of, on time, or behind schedule, and uses this information to dynamically adjust turnout usage priority, thereby resolving the contradiction between preventing conflicts and maintaining punctuality.
2Reliability
If the automatic train monitoring system prepares the running plan to avoid multi-vehicle turnout conflict, then turnout conflict is prevented, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the target control device to automatically determine priority and make control decisions based on real-time train status information without requiring complex centralized planning. The system self-adjusts by comparing actual arrival times with scheduled times and autonomously managing turnout allocation, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for preventing a turnout conflict of a railway is applicable to a railway controller and includes: receiving a first request from a first train and a second request from a second train for using a turnout within a time period; determining whether a first distance between a current position of the first train and the turnout is equal to a second distance between a current position of the second train and the turnout; and in response to determining that the first distance is equal to the second distance, determining a priority user based on first arrival information of the first train and second arrival information of the second train, where the arrival information includes whether the train arrives at a next parking station on schedule, ahead of schedule, or behind schedule when running at a maximum running speed.