SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING A MISMATCH BETWEEN A MODEL FOR A POWERED SYSTEM AND THE ACTUAL BEHAVIOR OF THE POWERED SYSTEM

• US 20080161984A1
• Filed: 03/12/2008
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Hrdlicka, Kaitlyn, Kumar, Ajith Kuttannair, Brooks, James D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,229,607 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/20
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0058 On-board optimisation of vehicle or vehicle train operation

Abstract

A system is provided for determining a mismatch between a model for a powered system and the actual behavior of the powered system. The system includes a coupler positioned between adjacent cars of the powered system. The coupler is positioned in a stretched slack state or a bunched slack state based upon the separation of the adjacent cars. The system further includes a controller positioned within the powered system. The controller is configured to determine a mismatch of the model. A method is also provided for determining a mismatch between a model for a powered system and the actual behavior of the powered system.

Claims

1. A system for determining a mismatch between a model for a powered system and the actual behavior of the powered system, said system comprising:

a coupler positioned between adjacent cars of said powered system, said respective coupler being positioned in one of a stretched slack state and a bunched slack state based upon the separation of said adjacent cars; and

a controller positioned within said powered system, said controller is configured to determine a mismatch of said model.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said powered system is a train, said controller is positioned within a front locomotive of said train, said controller is configured to determine said mismatch of the model on a real-time basis from a plurality of input parameters including at least one locomotive parameter, track parameter, and train parameter.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said model is a lumped-mass model where all of the couplers positioned between the adjacent cars of said train are assumed permanently in one of a stretched slack state or a bunched slack state.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

a first sensor positioned within a front locomotive of said train to measure a first parameter of said front locomotive; and

said controller is configured to determine said mismatch of the lumped-mass model on said real-time basis based upon at least one of said first parameter, and a stability state of said train;

said train stability state being one of a stable state based on all couplers being in said stretched slack state or all couplers being in said bunched slack state, and an unstable state based on one coupler being in said bunched slack state and one coupler being in said stretched slack state.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

a second sensor positioned with said front locomotive to measure a second parameter of said front locomotive;

wherein said controller is configured to determine said mismatch of the lumped-mass model on said real-time basis based upon said at least one of said first parameter, said second parameter and said train stability state.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said first sensor is a speed sensor positioned within said front locomotive to measure a speed of said front locomotive;

said second sensor is a notch sensor positioned with said front locomotive to measure a current notch of an engine of said front locomotive;

said controller is configured to determine a jerk of said front locomotive based on a time rate of change of the acceleration of said front locomotive, said acceleration based on said speed;

said controller is configured to determine said mismatch of said lumped-mass model on said real-time basis based upon at least two of said jerk, said current notch, and said train stability state being modified by a respective threshold amount within a real-time predetermined time period.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said respective threshold for the modification of said jerk is a dynamic threshold based on at least one of a type of said train, train speed, locomotive power, a number of locomotives in said train, a past record of the mismatches of said lumped-mass model for said train, a track parameter, and an input from a locomotive operator of a suspected mismatch of said lumped-mass model.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said past record is configured to adjust said dynamic threshold based on a number of past mismatches of said lumped-mass model, and a degree of jerk during said past mismatches of said lumped-mass model.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said locomotive operator is prompted to input at least one of a time and a location of said suspected mismatch, said at least one time and location of said suspected mismatch is stored in a memory of said controller, said controller is configured to adjust the dynamic threshold based on said at least one time and location of the suspected mismatch.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein said respective threshold for the modification of the train stability state is from said unstable state to said stable state.

11. The system of claim 5, wherein said train travels on a rail along a predetermined route, said controller is configured to switch between one of:

an automatic mode in which the controller is configured to automatically take said corrective action for a predetermined amount of time; and

a manual mode in which a locomotive operator is configured to manually input said corrective action.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein in said automatic mode, and upon determining said mismatch of said lumped-mass model, said controller is configured to take a corrective action including at least one of varying said current notch, varying said speed and said acceleration for a fixed amount of time, and switching to said manual mode if a number of said mismatches of the lumped-mass model over a predetermined time period exceed a predetermined threshold.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein in said manual mode, and upon said mismatch of the lumped mass-model, a recommended corrective action is transmitted to a display to be viewed by the operator, said recommended corrective action including at least one of varying said current notch, and varying said speed and said acceleration for a fixed amount of time.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said corrective action includes said controller transmitting an error signal to a second controller or algorithm configured to rely on said lumped-mass model in computing data, said error signal is configured to communicate to said second controller of said mismatch in said lumped-mass model such that said second controller ceases to rely on said lumped-mass model.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising a position determination device on said train to determine a location of said train, said position determination device being coupled to said controller, said corrective action includes:

said controller being configured to assess whether said mismatch and a threshold number of prior mismatches occurred over some time period within a local region based on location information of said prior mismatches provided from said position determination device and stored in a memory of said controller; and

said controller being configured to record in said memory that the grade of said predetermined route in said local region is incorrect.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said controller is configured to wirelessly communicate with a remote facility responsible for maintaining a grade of said predetermined route in said memory, said controller is configured to communicate to said remote facility that said memory including said grade of the predetermined route in said local region is incorrect.

17. The system of claim 11, further comprising a position determination device on said train to determine a location of said train, said position determination device being coupled to said controller, said corrective action includes:

said controller being configured to transmit a notification to a remote facility that said front locomotive experienced poor train handling in a local region where said mismatch of the lumped-mass model occurred, based upon location information provided by said position determination device at the time and location of said mismatch.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein said corrective action includes said controller being configured to assess whether said mismatch and a threshold number of prior mismatches occurred over some time period and transmit a notification to a remote facility that said train commenced on said predetermined route with a poor train makeup.

19. The system of claim 11, further comprising an event recorder configured to record a plurality of train parameters during said predetermined route;

wherein said corrective action includes said controller being configured to record said mismatch of the lumped-mass model during said predetermined route for offboard analysis.

23. The system of claim 4, wherein the first parameter is given by a second controller that is configured to rely on said model to provide an output to said controller;

said controller is configured to evaluate said output from said second controller and determine whether said second controller output exceeds a threshold degree of error as indicative of said mismatch in said model.

20. A system for determining a mismatch between a model for a powered system and the actual behavior of the powered system, said system comprising:

a speed sensor positioned within said powered system to measure a speed of said powered system; and

a controller positioned within said powered system, said controller being coupled to said speed sensor, said controller including a memory configured to store a speed pattern of said powered system for a fixed time during a past mismatch of the model;

said controller is configured to compare data of said speed of the powered system received from said speed sensor with said speed pattern to determine a mismatch of said model.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said powered system is a train, said speed sensor is positioned within a front locomotive of said train to measure a speed of said front locomotive, said controller is positioned within said front locomotive, said memory configured to store a speed pattern of said front locomotive of said train for the fixed time during the past mismatch of said model;

said controller is configured to compare data of said speed of the front locomotive received from said speed sensor with said speed pattern to determine a mismatch of said model.

22. The system of claim 21, further including an operator control panel configured to receive an input from an operator during a suspected mismatch of the model;

said controller is configured to compare the data of said speed of the front locomotive with said speed pattern when said operator input is received from said operator to determine an automatic pattern update.

24. A system for determining a mismatch between a model for a powered system and the actual behavior of the powered system, said system comprising:

a speed sensor positioned within said powered system to measure a speed of said powered system; and

a controller positioned within said powered system and coupled to said speed sensor, said controller configured to determine an acceleration from said data of the speed of said powered system and determine whether the time rate of change of said acceleration of said powered system exceeds a predetermined threshold over a predetermined time period stored in a memory of said controller.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said powered system is a train including a front locomotive, said speed sensor is positioned within said front locomotive to measure a speed of said front locomotive, said controller is positioned within said front locomotive, said controller is configured to determine the acceleration of the front locomotive and determine whether the time rate of change of said acceleration exceeds the predetermined threshold over the predetermined time period stored in the memory of the controller.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said controller is configured to determine a jerk of said powered system from said data of the speed of said powered system and compare said jerk with an expected jerk of said powered system stored in said memory of the controller.

27. A method for determining a mismatch between a model for a powered system and the actual behavior of the powered system, said method comprising:

measuring a speed of said powered system;

measuring a current notch of an engine of said powered system;

determining a stability state of said powered system based on a collective separation of adjacent cars of said powered system;

determining a jerk of said powered system equal to a time rate of change of the acceleration of said powered system based on said speed; and

determining a mismatch of said model based upon at least two of said jerk, current notch, and powered system stability state being modified by a respective threshold within a real-time predetermined time period.