Method and apparatus for optimizing a train trip using signal information

• US 8,751,073 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2013
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• 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 Kuttannair, Daum, Wolfgang, Hershey, John Erik, Hess, Gerald James, Otsubo, Tom
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): PECHE, JORGE O
• Application Number:
  US13/739,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20130131898A1
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 701/19, 701/20, 701/400, 246/182.C, 246/187.R
• US Class Current: 701/19
• CPC Class Codes: B61C 17/12 Control gear; Arrangements for controlling locomotives from remote points in the train or when operating in multiple units control from points outside the train B61L3/00; fluid-actuated telemotors, servomotors F15B; control devices in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0058 On-board optimisation of vehicle or vehicle train operation
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2205/04 Satellite based navigation systems, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• 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 25/026 Relative localisation, e.g. using odometer
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/16 Trackside optimisation of vehicle or train operation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/021 in which a variable is automatically adjusted to optimise the performance

Abstract

A system is provided for operating a railway network including a first railway vehicle during a trip along track segments. The system includes a first element for determining travel parameters of the first railway vehicle, a second element for determining travel parameters of a second railway vehicle relative to the track segments to be traversed by the first vehicle during the trip, a processor for receiving information from the first and the second elements and for determining a relationship between occupation of a track segment by the second vehicle and later occupation of the same track segment by the first vehicle and an algorithm embodied within the processor having access to the information to create a trip plan that determines a speed trajectory for the first vehicle. The speed trajectory is responsive to the relationship and further in accordance with one or more operational criteria for the first vehicle.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first element configured to determine first travel parameters of a first vehicle traveling along plural route segments during a trip in a route network, the first vehicle traveling towards a first route segment in the plural route segments, the route segments having signals that change states to indicate whether the route segments are clear of occupancy by one or more other vehicles or are occupied by one or more other vehicles;

a second element configured to determine second travel parameters of a second vehicle traveling in the first route segment ahead of the first vehicle, the first and second elements including at least one of a locator element, a track characterization element, or a sensor associated with the first and second vehicles, respectively; and

one or more processors configured to receive the first travel parameters from the first element and the second travel parameters from the second element, the one or more processors also configured to determine a probability that the state of the signal of the first route segment will indicate that the first route segment is clear of the second vehicle when the first vehicle arrives at the signal of the first route segment, wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine the probability that the state of the signal of the first route segment will indicate that the first route segment is clear of the second vehicle by examining the first and second travel parameters, the first travel parameters including current states of one or more other upcoming signals of the route segments to be traveled by the first vehicle, the second travel parameters including a current location of the second vehicle, a current speed of the second vehicle, a time of arrival of the second vehicle, and a direction of travel of the second vehicle,

wherein the one or more processors are configured to at least one of generate or modify a trip plan that designates a speed trajectory for the first vehicle to travel in the route network for the trip, wherein the speed trajectory is based on the probability that the state of the signal of the first route segment will indicate that the first route segment is clear of the second vehicle when the first vehicle arrives at the signal of the first route segment.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to at least one of create or modify the speed trajectory of the trip plan for the first vehicle based on the state of the signal of the first route segment indicating that the first route segment is clear of the second vehicle as the first vehicle arrives at the signal of the first route segment when the probability that the state of the signal of the first route segment will indicate that the first route segment is clear of the second vehicle when the first vehicle arrives at the signal of the first route segment is greater than a designated threshold.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine a time at which to reduce one or more speeds of the first vehicle as designated by the speed trajectory of the trip plan in order to avoid causing the first vehicle to arrive at the signal of the first route segment before the state of the signal indicates that the first route segment is clear of the second vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine a rate at which the one or more speeds of the first vehicle that are designated by the speed trajectory of the trip plan are reduced in order to cause the first vehicle to attain a designated speed at a later time.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine a location along the plural route segments where one or more speeds of the first vehicle as designated by the speed trajectory of the trip plan are reduced to prevent the first vehicle from arriving at the signal of the first route segment before the state of the signal indicates that the first route segment is clear of the second vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to control a rate at which the one or more speeds of the first vehicle as designated by the speed trajectory is reduced in order to cause the first vehicle to attain a designated speed upon arriving at the signal of the first route segment, the rate controlled responsive to the probability that the state of the signal of the first route segment will indicate that the first route segment is clear of the second vehicle when the first vehicle arrives at the signal of the first route segment.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the first or second travel parameters include one or more of an actual location of the respective first or second vehicle, an actual speed of the respective first or second vehicle, a previously generated trip plan of the respective first or second vehicle, a type of the respective first or second vehicle, a calculated time of arrival of the respective first or second vehicle at one or more locations that are a designated distance from the first route segment, a direction of travel of the respective first or second vehicle, or a relative priority of travel between the first and second vehicles.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine a predicted state of the signal of the first route segment when the first vehicle arrives at the signal by estimating the time that the second vehicle will clear the first route segment based on one or more of the second travel parameters.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the speed trajectory comprises a designated exit speed for the first vehicle to travel when the first vehicle leaves the first route segment.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the speed trajectory designated by the trip plan has a speed reduction initiation point that represents at least one of a time or location along the plural route segments at which to reduce one or more speeds of the first vehicle to prevent the first vehicle from arriving at the signal of the first route segment before the state of the signal indicates that the first route segment is clear of the second vehicle.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein one or more of the time or the location of the speed reduction initiation point is responsive to the probability that the state of the signal of the first route segment will indicate that the first route segment is clear of the second vehicle when the first vehicle arrives at the signal of the first route segment.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein a first speed reduction initiation point responsive to a first probability that the state of the signal of the first route segment will indicate that the first route segment is clear of the second vehicle when the first vehicle arrives at the signal of the first route segment is later in one or more of time or location than a second speed reduction initiation point responsive to a second probability that the state of the signal of the first route segment will indicate that the first route segment is clear of the second vehicle when the first vehicle arrives at the signal of the first route segment, the first probability being greater than the second probability.

13. A system comprising:

a first element configured to determine first travel parameters of a first vehicle traveling along plural route segments during a trip in a route network, the first vehicle traveling towards a first route segment in the plural route segments, the route segments having signals that change states to indicate whether the route segments are clear of occupancy by one or more other vehicles or are occupied by one or more other vehicles;

a second element configured to determine second travel parameters of a second vehicle, the second vehicle traveling ahead of the first vehicle and occupying the first route segment prior to the first vehicle, the first and second elements including at least one of a locator element, a track characterization element, or a sensor associated with the first and second vehicles, respectively; and

one or more processors configured to receive the first travel parameters from the first element and the second travel parameters from the second element, the one or more processors also configured to determine a probability that the state of the signal of the first route segment will indicate that the first route segment is clear of the second vehicle when the first vehicle arrives at the signal of the first route segment,

wherein the one or more processors are configured to at least one of generate or modify a trip plan that designates a speed trajectory for the first vehicle to travel in the route network for the trip, wherein the speed trajectory is based on the probability that the state of the signal of the first route segment will indicate that the first route segment is clear of the second vehicle when the first vehicle arrives at the signal of the first route segment such that, when the probability is greater than a designated threshold, the one or more processors designate the speed trajectory based on the state of the signal indicating that the first route segment is clear of the second vehicle when the first vehicle arrives at the signal of the first route segment.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein, when the state of the signal of the first route segment indicates that the first route segment is not clear of the second vehicle when the first vehicle arrives at a speed reduction initiation point in the speed trajectory prior to the first vehicle arriving at the signal of the first route segment, the first vehicle reduces one or more speeds to prevent the first vehicle from arriving at the signal before the state of the signal indicates that the first route segment is clear of the second vehicle.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine the probability that the state of the signal of the first route segment will indicate that the first route segment is clear of the second vehicle by examining the first and second travel parameters, the first travel parameters including current states of one or more other upcoming signals of the route segments to be traveled by the first vehicle, the second travel parameters including a current location of the second vehicle, a current speed of the second vehicle, a time of arrival of the second vehicle, and a direction of travel of the second vehicle.

16. A system comprising:

a first element configured to determine first travel parameters of a first vehicle traveling along plural route segments during a trip in a route network, the first vehicle traveling towards a first route segment in the plural route segments, the route segments having signals that change states to indicate whether the route segments are clear of occupancy by one or more other vehicles or are occupied by one or more other vehicles;

a second element configured to determine second travel parameters of a second vehicle traveling in the first route segment ahead of the first vehicle, the first and second elements including at least one of a locator element, a track characterization element, or a sensor associated with the first and second vehicles, respectively; and

one or more processors configured to receive the first travel parameters from the first element and the second travel parameters from the second element, the one or more processors also configured to determine a probability that the state of the signal of the first route segment will indicate that the first route segment is clear of the second vehicle when the first vehicle arrives at the signal of the first route segment,

wherein the one or more processors are configured to at least one of generate or modify a trip plan that designates a speed trajectory for the first vehicle to travel in the route network for the trip, wherein the speed trajectory is responsive to the probability that the state of the signal of the first route segment will indicate that the first route segment is clear of the second vehicle when the first vehicle arrives at the signal of the first route segment such that, the greater the probability, the further the first vehicle is allowed to travel towards the first route segment at one or more non-reduced speeds.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine the probability that the state of the signal of the first route segment will indicate that the first route segment is clear of the second vehicle by examining the first and second travel parameters, the first travel parameters including current states of one or more other upcoming signals of the route segments to be traveled by the first vehicle, the second travel parameters including a current location of the second vehicle, a current speed of the second vehicle, a time of arrival of the second vehicle, and a direction of travel of the second vehicle.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the first vehicle is allowed to travel towards the first route segment at the one or more non-reduced speeds until the first vehicle arrives at a speed reduction initiation point speed representative of a time or location along the plural route segments at which the first vehicle reduces one or more speeds to prevent the first vehicle from arriving at the signal of the first route segment before the state of the signal indicates that the first route segment is clear of the second vehicle.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein a first speed trajectory responsive to a first probability that the state of the signal of the first route segment will indicate that the first route segment is clear of the second vehicle when the first vehicle arrives at the signal of the first route segment has a later speed reduction initiation point and a higher rate at which the one or more speeds of the first vehicle are reduced when the first vehicle reaches the speed reduction initiation point as compared to a second speed trajectory responsive to second probability that the state of the signal of the first route segment will indicate that the first route segment is clear of the second vehicle when the first vehicle arrives at the signal, the first probability being greater than the second probability.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein, when the state of the signal of the first route segment indicates that the first route segment is clear of the second vehicle prior to the first vehicle arriving at the speed reduction initiation point, the speed trajectory permits the first vehicle to maintain the one or more non-reduced speeds beyond the speed reduction initiation point without reducing the one or more speeds of the first vehicle.