METHOD, SYSTEM AND COMPUTER SOFTWARE CODE FOR TRIP OPTIMIZATION WITH TRAIN/TRACK DATABASE AUGMENTATION

• US 20070219682A1
• Filed: 01/11/2007
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Kumar, Ajith, Shaffer, Glenn Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,768,543 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/19
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0058 On-board optimisation of vehicle or vehicle train operation
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/16 Trackside optimisation of vehicle or train operation
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 3/006 On-board optimisation of vehicle or vehicle train operation track-side optimisation of operation B61L27/16

Abstract

A system for providing at least one of train information and track characterization information for use in train performance, including a first element to determine a location of a train on a track segment and/or a time from a beginning of the trip. A track characterization element to provide track segment information, and a sensor for measuring an operating condition of at least one of the locomotives in the train are also included. A database is provided for storing track segment information and/or the operating condition of at least one of the locomotives. A processor is also included to correlate information from the first element, the track characterization element, the sensor, and/or the database, so that the database may be used for creating a trip plan that optimizes train performance in accordance with one or more operational criteria for the train.

Claims

1. A system for providing at least one of train information and track characterization information for use in train performance, the system comprising:

a. a first element to determine at least one of a location of a train on a track segment and a time from a beginning of the trip;

b. a track characterization element to provide track segment information;

c. a sensor for measuring an operating condition of at least one of the locomotives in the train;

d. a database for storing at least one of track segment information and the operating condition of at least one of the locomotives; and

e. a processor to correlate information from the first element, the track characterization element, the sensor, and the database, so that the database may be used for creating a trip plan that optimizes train performance in accordance with one or more operational criteria for the train.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the track segment information or train information comprises at least one of a change in speed restriction, track grade, track curvature, traffic pattern on the track segment, allowed speed, actual speed, speed restrictions, track age, track condition, weather conditions, tractive effort, and braking effort.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a communications element for providing the track segment information off board the train for use by the processor of other trains traversing the track segment.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the communications element provides at least one of the track segment information and operating conditions of at least one of the locomotives to a remote site, and wherein at the remote site the track segment information is used to create a trip plan for other trains traversing the track segment.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein the communications element comprises a wayside communications element for providing the track segment information to other trains via the wayside communications element.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the track segment information comprises any track condition that affects the ability to propel the locomotive or stop the locomotive.

7. A system for operating a train during a trip along a track segment, the train comprising one or more locomotive consists with each locomotive consist comprising one or more locomotives, the system comprising:

a. a first element to determine at least one of a location of the train on the track segment and a time from a beginning of the trip;

b. a track characterization element to provide track segment information;

c. a sensor for measuring an operating condition of at least one of the locomotives;

d. a database for storing at least one of track segment information and the operating condition of at least one of the locomotives; and

e. a processor operable to receive information from at least one of the first element, the sensor, the track characterization element, and the database for creating a trip plan that optimizes locomotive performance in accordance with one or more operational criteria for the train.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein during the trip the track characterization element provides at least one of updated track segment information and updated train information to the database.

9. The system according to claim 7, further comprising a controller element for autonomously directing the train to follow the trip plan.

10. The system according to claims 7, wherein an operator directs the train in accordance with the trip plan.

11. The system according to claim 7, wherein the processor creates an updated trip plan during the trip responsive to the updated track segment information.

12. The system according to claim 7, wherein the track segment information or train information comprises at least one of a change in speed restriction, track grade, track curvature, traffic pattern on the track segment, allowed speed, actual speed, speed restrictions, track age, track condition, weather conditions, tractive effort, and braking effort.

13. The system according to claim 7, further comprising a communications element for providing the track segment information off board the train for use by the processor of other trains traversing the track segment.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the communications element provides at least one of the track segment information and operating conditions of at least one of the locomotives to a remote site, and wherein at the remote site the track segment information is used to create a trip plan for other trains traversing the track segment.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein the communications element comprises a wayside communications element for providing the track segment information to other trains via the wayside communications element.

16. The system according to claim 7, wherein the track segment information comprises any track condition that affects the ability to propel the locomotive or stop the locomotive.

17. The system according to claim 7, wherein operating conditions of at least one of the locomotives comprises any locomotive information that affects the ability to propel the locomotive or stop the locomotive.

18. The system according to claim 7, wherein the track characterization element comprises a camera.

19. A method for operating a train during a trip along a track segment, the train comprising one or more locomotive consists with each locomotive consist comprising one or more locomotives, the method comprising:

a. determining a location of the train on a track or a time from a beginning of the trip;

b. determining track segment information;

c. storing the track segment information;

d. determining at least one operating condition of at least one of the locomotives; and

e. creating a trip plan responsive to at least one the location of the train, the track segment information, and at least one operating condition to optimize locomotive performance in accordance with one or more operational criteria for the train.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising revising the trip plan during a trip based on at least one of track segment information and at least one operating condition of at least one of the locomotives collected during the trip.

21. The method according to claim 19, further comprising revising the trip plan responsive to track segment information collected by other trains traversing the track segment.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein the track segment information comprises allowed speed, speed restrictions, train inertia, barometric pressure, images, track grade, track age, track condition, weather conditions, track information affecting the ability to propel the train, track information affecting the ability to stop the train, track friction coefficient, applied tractive effort, applied braking effort, location and track altitude, signals for forward track blocks.

23. The method according to claim 19, further comprising controlling the train according to the trip plan.

24. The method according to claim 19, further comprising informing a train operator of the trip plan, wherein the operator can control the train according to the trip plan.

25. A computer software code for operating a train having a computer processor, the code for operating the train during a trip along a track segment, the train comprising one or more locomotive consists with each locomotive consist comprising one or more locomotives, the software code comprising:

a. a software module for determining track segment information;

b. a software module for storing the track segment information;

c. a software module for determining at least one operating condition of one of the locomotives; and

d. a software module for creating a trip plan responsive to at least one of the location of the train, the track segment information and at least one operating condition to optimize locomotive performance in accordance with one or more operational criteria for the train.

26. The computer software code according to claim 25, further comprising a software module for revising the trip plan during a trip based on at least one of track segment information and at least one operating condition of at least one of the locomotives collected during the trip.

27. The computer software code according to claim 25, further comprising revising the trip plan responsive to track segment information collected by other trains traversing the track segment.

28. The computer software code according to claim 25, wherein the track segment information comprises allowed speed, speed restrictions, train inertia, barometric pressure, images, track grade, track age, track condition, weather conditions, track information affecting the ability to propel the train, track information affecting the ability to stop the train, track friction coefficient, applied tractive effort, applied braking effort, location and track altitude, signals for forward track blocks.

29. The computer software code according to claim 25, further comprising a software code module for controlling the train according to the trip plan.

30. The computer software code according to claim 25, further comprising a software code module for informing a train operator of the trip plan, wherein the operator can control the train according to the trip plan.