Vehicle Route Control for Pathway Compatibility and Speed Thresholds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles equipped with incompatible route equipment often face disruptions, such as having to stop or change pathways, leading to extended travel times and potential delays at destinations.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control system that identifies onboard route equipment and pathway classifications to determine optimal control settings, allowing vehicles to navigate compatible routes efficiently and adjust speed thresholds based on equipment type.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a vehicle is equipped with route equipment compatible with multiple pathway classifications, then the vehicle can traverse different types of pathways, but the vehicle must operate at reduced speeds on certain pathway classifications, extending travel time
Solution Approach 1:
The control system pre-identifies pathway classifications and determines appropriate control settings before the vehicle reaches each pathway section. This allows the vehicle to be prepared in advance for speed adjustments, eliminating reactive delays and optimizing travel time while maintaining compatibility with different pathway types.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically adjusts operational parameters based on the identified pathway classification. By making speed and control settings adaptive rather than fixed, the system optimizes travel time on each pathway type while maintaining compatibility across different classifications, resolving the contradiction between versatility and travel time efficiency.
2Reliability
If a vehicle encounters an incompatible pathway classification during transit, then the vehicle must stop or change pathways, but this disrupts travel of other vehicle systems and extends trip length
Solution Approach 1:
The control system identifies pathway classifications and determines compatibility in advance, before the vehicle encounters any potential incompatibilities. This proactive approach allows the vehicle to plan its route and adjust operations beforehand, preventing stops and pathway changes that would disrupt travel and reduce productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system continuously monitors pathway classifications and adjusts vehicle operations based on real-time feedback. This closed-loop control ensures the vehicle maintains compatible operations throughout transit, preventing disruptions to other vehicle systems and maintaining optimal travel efficiency while ensuring route compatibility.
3Reliability
If a vehicle must change pathways or return to a previous location due to incompatibility, then the vehicle can maintain route compatibility, but the trip length is extended causing late arrival at destination
Solution Approach 1:
The control system pre-identifies all pathway classifications along the route and determines compatibility before the vehicle begins transit. This advance planning eliminates the need for mid-trip pathway changes or returns, ensuring both route compatibility and timely arrival at the destination by preventing extension of trip length.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system continuously monitors pathway compatibility throughout the journey and adjusts operations in real-time based on feedback. This ensures the vehicle maintains compatible operations without needing to change pathways or return to previous locations, thereby preventing trip extension while maintaining route compatibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle control system and method includes identifying a type of route equipment disposed onboard a vehicle, and identifying one or more locations of a first classification of a pathway from among plural different classifications of pathways along a route. One or more first control settings for controlling operating of the vehicle at the one or more locations of the first classification of the pathway are determined based at least in part on the type of route equipment that is disposed onboard the vehicle and the first classification of the pathway. Operation of the vehicle is controlled according to the one or more first control settings to move the vehicle along the route at the one or more locations of the first classification of the pathway.