Onboard Vehicle Scheduling System for Fuel-Efficient Pass Events
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In transportation networks, vehicles often experience delays and schedule deviations, leading to inefficient pass events that result in wasted fuel, particularly when one vehicle is behind schedule and needs to wait or abruptly slow down to avoid collisions, causing unnecessary fuel consumption.
Innovation Solution
A scheduling system that includes a control unit on board vehicles to receive updated location or time information for meet events from an off-board scheduling system, allowing for adjustments in speed to optimize arrival times and reduce fuel consumption by modifying the timing or location of pass events based on throughput parameters and confidence calculations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a faster vehicle abruptly slows down to avoid overtaking a slower vehicle, then collision risk is reduced, but fuel consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating pass event timings and notifying vehicles in advance. The faster vehicle receives advance notification of the pass event and is given time to gradually reduce speed rather than abrupt braking, thereby avoiding collisions while minimizing fuel waste from sudden deceleration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where vehicles report their actual positions and speeds to the scheduling system, which then adjusts pass event timings accordingly. This continuous feedback loop allows the system to optimize speed adjustments and notifications to reduce fuel consumption while maintaining safety.
2Reliability
If a vehicle waits for another vehicle to complete a pass event, then scheduling conflicts are resolved, but time is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies dynamics by making pass event timings flexible and adjustable rather than fixed. When a vehicle is delayed, the system dynamically recalculates pass event times to maintain optimal scheduling. This allows the system to resolve conflicts efficiently without imposing fixed waiting periods, thereby reducing time loss.
3Speed
If the overtaking vehicle reaches the leading vehicle before the scheduled pass event, then the overtaking vehicle arrives early, but fuel is wasted due to abrupt slowing down
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary speed adjustments by notifying the faster vehicle of upcoming pass events in advance. This allows the vehicle to gradually reduce its speed before reaching the slower vehicle, rather than maintaining high speed and then abruptly braking, thereby reducing fuel waste while maintaining appropriate speed.
Data Source
AI summary
A system is provided that includes a control unit configured to be disposed on-board at least one of a first vehicle or a second vehicle. The control unit also is configured to receive an updated time of an event involving the first vehicle and the second vehicle traveling in a transportation network. The control unit also is configured to change a speed of said at least one of the first vehicle or the second vehicle in response to the updated time to arrive at the event. A method is provided that includes, at one of a first vehicle or a second vehicle, receiving an updated time of an event involving the first vehicle and the second vehicle in a transportation network. The method also includes changing a speed of said one of the first vehicle or the second vehicle in response to the updated tune to arrive at the event.