System and method of controlling vehicles to follow a defined trajectory in a complex track network
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a vehicle in a transportation system, the method being implemented by a computer, the method comprising:
- receiving a table that defines a trajectory for the vehicle, wherein the table comprises a plurality of jerk values, each of the jerk values having a corresponding time and a corresponding jerk duration;
computing, using the computer, a current target position for the vehicle based on the jerk values and corresponding times and jerk durations from the table, wherein computing the current target position includes synchronizing a current update interval to one of the corresponding times in the table of jerk values for the vehicle, wherein synchronizing includes;
determining a relative time difference between the current update interval and an initial time,identifying one or more jerk values in the table having corresponding times closest to the determined relative time difference, andusing the identified one or more jerk values to develop the current target position;
receiving feedback from the vehicle about its actual position; and
using the target position and the actual position to develop commands to cause the vehicle to follow the defined trajectory.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to ground transportation systems. According to certain aspects, the present invention includes systems and methods that provide a higher degree of precision and a greater coordination of vehicle movement than is possible in conventional systems. For example, a control system according to the invention is designed to enforce vehicle movement along a route to a position versus time trajectory. The control system includes control equipment on the vehicle that reports its location on the track every 0.5 seconds. The controlling computer in the station receives the report, and knowing where the vehicle should be and how fast it should be traveling at that point in time via a run definition table prepared for the route, calculates a position and velocity error, and then calculates and sends a tractive effort (force) adjustment command to the vehicle that attempts to reduce the position and velocity error.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a vehicle in a transportation system, the method being implemented by a computer, the method comprising:
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receiving a table that defines a trajectory for the vehicle, wherein the table comprises a plurality of jerk values, each of the jerk values having a corresponding time and a corresponding jerk duration; computing, using the computer, a current target position for the vehicle based on the jerk values and corresponding times and jerk durations from the table, wherein computing the current target position includes synchronizing a current update interval to one of the corresponding times in the table of jerk values for the vehicle, wherein synchronizing includes; determining a relative time difference between the current update interval and an initial time, identifying one or more jerk values in the table having corresponding times closest to the determined relative time difference, and using the identified one or more jerk values to develop the current target position; receiving feedback from the vehicle about its actual position; and using the target position and the actual position to develop commands to cause the vehicle to follow the defined trajectory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 15)
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8. A system for controlling a vehicle in a transportation system, comprising:
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a master computer, remote from the vehicle, that creates a table that defines a trajectory for the vehicle, wherein the table comprises a plurality of jerk values, each of the jerk values having a corresponding time and a corresponding jerk duration; a computer remote from the master computer that receives the table and; computes a current target position for the vehicle based on the jerk values and corresponding times and jerk durations from the table, wherein computing the current target position includes synchronizing a current update interval to one of the corresponding times in the table of jerk values for the vehicle, wherein synchronizing includes; determining a relative time difference between the current update interval and an initial time, identifying one or more jerk values in the table having corresponding times closest to the determined relative time difference, and using the identified one or more jerk values to develop the current target position; receives feedback from the vehicle about its actual position; and uses the target position and the actual position to develop commands to cause the vehicle to follow the defined trajectory. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16)
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Specification