Method & apparatus for autonomous train control system

• US 20170113707A1
• Filed: 10/20/2016
• Published: 04/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nabil N. Ghaly
• Original Assignee: Nabil N. Ghaly
• Inventors: Ghaly, Nabil N.
• Granted Patent: US 11,021,178 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0058 On-board optimisation of vehicle or vehicle train operation
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2201/00 Control methods
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2205/00 Communication or navigation systems for railway traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 23/14 automatically operated
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 23/18 specially adapted for changing lengths of track sections in dependence upon speed and traffic density
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/021 Measuring and recording of train speed
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/025 Absolute localisation, e.g. providing geodetic coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/20 Trackside control of safe travel of vehicle or train, e.g. braking curve calculation
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/40 Handling position reports or trackside vehicle data
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 29/00 Safety means for rail/road crossing traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 3/16 Continuous control along the route

Abstract

A method and a structure for an Autonomous Train Control System (ATCS) are disclosed, and are based on a plurality of autonomous train control elements that operate independent of each other. An autonomous train control element operates within an allocated track space, and based on predefined rules. Further, autonomous train control elements are paired together to exchange operational data. Pursuant to the predefined rules, an autonomous train control element acquires needed track space from a paired element, and relinquishes track space that is not required for its autonomous operation to a paired element. Further, an autonomous train control element is assigned a priority level with respect to the acquisition/relinquishment of track space.

Claims

1. A train control system that includes a plurality of autonomous train control elements, wherein the train control system controls the movement of trains within a section of track, wherein an autonomous train control element operates independent of other train control elements based on predefined rules, wherein at least one autonomous train control element has designated track space, and wherein at least one autonomous train control element acquires track space from a first train control element and relinquishes track space to a second train control element.

2. A train control system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one autonomous train control element is assigned a higher level of priority with respect to the acquisition of track space.

3. A train control system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a communication interface module that performs the function of pairing at least two autonomous train control elements together.

4. A train control system as recited in claim 1, wherein one of said autonomous train control elements is defined as a virtual train and represents free track space.

5. A train control system as recited in claim 1, wherein one of said autonomous train control elements controls the movement of a physical train operating within designated track space based on predefined rules.

6. A train control system as recited in claim 1, wherein one of said autonomous train control elements establishes and secures train routes at an associated interlocking, and wherein this interlocking control element performs interlocking functions within designated track space based on predefined rules.

7. A train control system as recited in claim 1, wherein one of said autonomous train control elements controls the operation of a grade crossing that operates based on predefined rules within designated track space.

8. A train control system as recited in claim 1, wherein one of said autonomous train control elements is a signal control device that provides a backup mode of operation, wherein said signal device operates based on the absolute block principle, and wherein the signal device operates autonomously based on predefined rules.

9. A train control system that includes a plurality of autonomous train control elements, wherein the train control system controls the movement of trains within a section of track, wherein an autonomous train control element operates independent of other elements based on predefined rules, wherein at least one autonomous train control element requires track space for its autonomous operation, and wherein an autonomous train control element is defined as a virtual train and operates within a defined track space.

10. A train control system that controls the movement of trains within a section of track comprising:

a plurality of autonomous train control elements, wherein an autonomous train control element operates independent of other elements based on predefined rules,

a control module that manages the interfaces between said plurality of autonomous train control elements, and

a communication interface module that performs the function of pairing at least two autonomous train control elements together.

11. A train control system as recited in claim 10, wherein one of said plurality of autonomous train control elements is defined as a virtual train that operates within an assigned track space.

12. A train control system as recited in claim 10, wherein an autonomous train control elements operates within a defined track space, wherein at least one autonomous train control element acquires track space from a first train control element, and relinquishes track space to a second train control element.

13. A train control element as recited in claim 10, wherein said control module and communication interface module are implemented in a cloud computing environment.

14. A train control system that controls the movement of trains within a section of track comprising:

at least one autonomous train control element that controls the operation of a physical train based on predefined rules within a designated track space,

at least one autonomous train control element that controls the operation of a physical interlocking within an assigned track space based on predefined rules,

an autonomous train control element defined as virtual train and which operates based on predefined rules within an assigned track space,

a control module that manages the interfaces between autonomous train control elements, and

a communication interface module that performs the function of pairing at least two autonomous train control elements together.

15. A train control system as recited in claim 14, wherein said control module provides computing resources to implement virtual trains.

16. A train control system that controls the movement of trains within a section of track comprising:

an autonomous train control element that controls the operation of a physical train based on predefined rules within a designated track space,

an autonomous train control element that controls the operation of a physical interlocking based on predefined rules within an assigned track space,

an autonomous train control element defined as virtual train and which operates based on predefined rules within an assigned track space,

means for managing the interfaces between autonomous train control elements, and means for pairing at least two autonomous train control elements together.

17. A train control system that controls the movement of trains within a section of track, wherein said train control system includes a plurality of autonomous train control elements, wherein an autonomous train control element operates independent of other elements based on predefined rules within allocated track spaces, and wherein said predefined rules include rules for the acquisition of track space and rules for relinquishing track space.

18. A train control system that controls the movement of trains within a section of track comprising:

a plurality of logical modules implemented in a cloud computing environment to provide a plurality of autonomous virtual train control elements, wherein a virtual autonomous train control element operates based on predefined rules, and wherein a virtual autonomous train control element corresponds to a physical train control element, means for providing communication between virtual autonomous train control elements and corresponding physical train control element, and

means for pairing at least two virtual autonomous train control elements together.

19. A train control system that includes a plurality of autonomous train control elements, wherein one of said train control elements controls the operation of grade crossing equipment at a rail/vehicle intersection, wherein the train control element that controls the operation of grade crossing equipment operates based on predefined rules within an allocated track space, and wherein the train control element that controls the operation of grade crossing equipment communicates directly with road vehicles approaching the intersection.

20. A train control system that includes a plurality of autonomous train control elements that are linked by a data communication system, wherein one class of said train control elements is defined as virtual train, and wherein the train control elements are used to propagate at least one of operational data and failure data in a daisy chain configuration within the train control system territory.

21. A method for a train control system that controls the movement of trains within a section of track, wherein said train control system includes a plurality of autonomous train control elements, wherein an autonomous train control element operate within defined track space based on predefined rules, wherein autonomous train control elements are paired together, and wherein an autonomous train control element includes a processor module with a computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program to control the operation of the autonomous train control element, comprising the following steps:

performing autonomous train control functions within allocated track space,

determining if additional track space is needed to perform said autonomous functions, acquiring needed track space from paired autonomous train control element, and relinquishing track space not needed for the performance of autonomous functions to at least one paired autonomous train control element.