Vehicle Distance Determination Using Propagated Memory Values
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for maintaining safe distances between trains in rail traffic are complex and costly, requiring extensive infrastructure and communication systems, making them difficult to set up and maintain, especially for adapting to changes in track systems.
Innovation Solution
A method and system using storage devices arranged at regular intervals along the route to store and read distance values, allowing vehicles to determine their distance from the first vehicle without the need for complex radio data transmission, with storage devices connected to each other to propagate distance values in both directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If complex trackside track vacancy detection devices and system-wide radio data transmission are used, then measurement precision and reliability of distance determination are improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of distance determination from complex track vacancy detection devices and radio data transmission systems. Instead of using sophisticated trackside equipment, the invention uses simple memory devices stored on vehicles that contain distance information, which can be read by subsequent vehicles. This extraction of the core function eliminates the need for complex infrastructure while maintaining distance determination capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements copying by storing distance information in memory devices on vehicles. Rather than using a centralized control system with radio transmission, each vehicle carries a copy of the distance data in a memory device. Following vehicles read these copied distance values from preceding vehicles' memory devices, eliminating the need for complex system-wide communication infrastructure.
2Productivity
If extensive conversion work and project planning are performed for communication-based train control systems, then productivity and throughput are improved, but ease of manufacture and adaptability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the distance determination function into individual memory devices that can be independently stored on each vehicle. This segmentation allows the system to be implemented incrementally without requiring extensive conversion work on existing infrastructure. Each vehicle independently carries and transmits its own distance information, allowing the system to be deployed vehicle-by-vehicle rather than requiring system-wide installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by enabling vehicles to autonomously determine their distance from preceding vehicles using simple memory device reading. Each vehicle reads distance information from the memory device of the preceding vehicle and uses this information for its own positioning and speed control. This eliminates the need for centralized control centers or complex bidirectional communication systems, allowing vehicles to independently maintain safe distances.
3Reliability
If fixed block distances with trackside signaling are used, then reliability of safe distance maintenance is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional approach by moving the distance information storage from trackside infrastructure to the vehicles themselves. Instead of trackside devices signaling distance information to vehicles, the vehicles carry and transmit this information to following vehicles. This inversion eliminates the need for extensive trackside infrastructure while maintaining the reliability of distance determination through direct vehicle-to-vehicle information transfer.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for determining the distance between vehicles (3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3) traveling along a route, wherein several storage devices (6, 6.1, 6.2) are arranged at regular intervals along the route, a first predetermined start value is stored in a first storage device (6.1) when a first vehicle (3.1) passes the first storage device (6.1), a distance value is stored in each of the further storage devices (6, 6.1, 6.2), which differs from the start value and is representative of a distance from the respective storage device (6, 6.1, 6.2) to the first storage device (6.1), and the storage devices (6) are read out to determine the distance to the first vehicle (3.1). The invention further relates to a system (5) for determining the distance between vehicles (3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3) traveling along a route (4).