Remote Vehicle Operator Allocation for Time-Varying Trip Risk
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current remote vehicle operation assignment processes fail to account for dynamically changing risks during vehicle trips, leading to inadequate operator staffing and qualification management, which can compromise safety and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that determine time-variable risk profiles for vehicle systems, adjusting operator staffing demands and qualifications in real-time based on changing conditions such as weather, traffic, and cargo type, allowing for dynamic assignment of operators to ensure safe and timely vehicle movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If static risk analysis is used for operator assignment, then the assignment process is simple and stable, but it fails to address time-varying risks during vehicle trips
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static operator assignment process into a dynamic one by continuously updating risk profiles based on real-time vehicle location, weather conditions, traffic status, and other time-varying factors. The system recalculates operator assignments during trips rather than only at the beginning, ensuring that time-varying risks are addressed while maintaining manageable complexity through automated processing.
2Productivity
If operator assignments are fixed at the beginning of trips, then the assignment process is efficient and simple, but operator staffing demand cannot be adjusted to match changing risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system continuously monitors vehicle trip status, location, weather conditions, and other risk factors throughout the journey. Based on this real-time feedback, the system dynamically adjusts operator staffing demand and reassigns operators accordingly, balancing assignment efficiency with adaptability to changing conditions.
3Reliability
If dynamic risk monitoring and operator reassignment is implemented, then time-varying risks are addressed, but the assignment process becomes more complex and resource-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary risk assessments and operator assignments before trips begin, establishing a baseline configuration. During trips, the system only needs to make incremental adjustments based on changing conditions rather than complete re-evaluations, reducing processing time while maintaining comprehensive safety coverage.
Data Source
AI summary
An assignment system and method determine time-variable risk profiles for separate vehicle systems that are remotely controlled by operators located off-board the vehicle systems. The time-variable risk profiles represent risks to travel of the vehicle systems that change with respect to time. An operator staffing demand for the vehicle systems may be determined based on the time-variable risk profiles. The staffing demand represents how many operators are needed for remotely controlling the vehicle systems at different times and a required qualification of one or more operators. The system and method also assign operators to remotely monitor and/or control the vehicle systems based on the risk profiles and, optionally, the staffing demand. The operator assigned to one or more vehicle systems changes with respect to time while the vehicle systems are moving along routes.