Variable Berth Bus Bay with Lifting Columns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Urban traffic congestion is exacerbated by 'queue overflow' at bus stops due to insufficient fixed berths, leading to buses queuing outside, which affects road traffic flow and capacity.
Innovation Solution
A bus bay with variable berths and an operation method that dynamically adjusts berth availability based on real-time bus data through detection modules and a control system, using lifting columns to open or close alternative berths and waiting areas as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If more fixed berths are set up at the bus stop to accommodate more buses, then the bus stop capacity increases, but the road space occupied increases and road capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a variable berth system where the bus stop capacity can dynamically adjust based on real-time traffic conditions. Lifting columns raise or lower berth sections to either include them in the bus stop (increasing capacity) or exclude them from the road (freeing up space). This dynamic transformation allows the system to optimize both bus stop capacity and road space utilization at different times, resolving the contradiction between these two parameters.
2Reliability
If the bus stop capacity is increased with fixed berths, then queue overflow is reduced, but the flexibility to adapt to varying traffic conditions is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The variable berth system enables the bus stop to dynamically adapt its capacity to match real-time traffic demand. Detection modules monitor bus arrivals and queue conditions, and the control system adjusts the berth configuration accordingly. This ensures reliable queue overflow prevention when demand is high while maintaining adaptability to varying traffic conditions throughout the day.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates detection modules that continuously monitor traffic conditions, bus arrivals, and queue lengths. This feedback information is processed by the control system, which then adjusts the berth configuration to optimize performance. The feedback mechanism ensures the system responds appropriately to changing conditions, maintaining both reliability and adaptability.
3Productivity
If variable berths with lifting columns are implemented, then road utility is improved and traffic flow impact is reduced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bus stop is divided into multiple independent berth sections that can be individually controlled by separate lifting columns. This segmentation allows the system to adjust only the necessary portions of the bus stop based on traffic conditions, rather than moving the entire structure. The modular approach reduces overall system complexity while maintaining the ability to optimize road utility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates automatic detection and control mechanisms that monitor traffic conditions and adjust the berth configuration without manual intervention. The detection modules automatically identify when queue overflow is occurring or when road space needs to be freed, and the control system automatically activates the appropriate lifting columns. This self-service capability reduces operational complexity while improving road utility.
Data Source
AI summary
A bus bay with variable berths and an operation method therefor include: a bus stop with multiple fixed berths, a variable berth module, an in-station detection module, an off-station detection module, a motorway, and green belts; the bus stop, the variable berth module, the in-station detection module, and the off-station detection module are sequentially disposed side by side on a side of the motorway. The variable berth module includes an alternative berth and an alternative waiting area, which are surrounded by multiple sets of lifting columns; the in-station detection module and the off-station detection module are disposed in the green belts; a warning sign is fixed on a pole as belonging to the off-station detection module; the in-station detection module includes a control sub-module therein, the variable berth module, the in-station detection module, and the off-station detection module are connected with the control sub-module.