Trip optimization system and method for a train

• US 9,733,625 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2006
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• 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: Houpt, Paul Kenneth, Movsichoff, Bernardo Adrian, Eker, Sukru Alper, Kumar, Ajith Kuttannair, Shaffer, Glenn Robert, Chan, David So Keung
• Primary Examiner(s): Mawari, Redhwan K
• Assistant Examiner(s): King, Rodney P
• Application Number:
  US11/385,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20070219680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,166 Days
• Field of Search: 246 2 R, 246122 R, 246125, 246167 R, 701 19, 701 1, 701 20, 701 22, 701 24, 701102, 701117, 701119-121, 701200, 701204-209, 700213-219
• 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 25/025 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management

Abstract

A system for operating a train having one or more locomotive consists with each locomotive consist comprising one or more locomotives, the system including a locator element to determine a location of the train, a track characterization element to provide information about a track, a sensor for measuring an operating condition of the locomotive consist, a processor operable to receive information from the locator element, the track characterizing element, and the sensor, and an algorithm embodied within the processor having access to the information to create a trip plan that optimizes performance of the locomotive consist in accordance with one or more operational criteria for the train.

Claims

1. A method for operating a first train having one or more locomotive consists with each locomotive consist comprising one or more locomotives, the method comprising:

receiving route data and train data, wherein the route data includes data relating to one or more characteristics of a track on which the first train is to travel along a route and data relating to at least one speed limit along the route, and wherein the train data relates to one or more characteristics of the train;

creating a trip plan onboard the first train at any time during travel of the train along the route, wherein the trip plan is created at a first point along the route based on the received data and covers at least a segment of the route extending to a second point further along the route than the first point, the trip plan designating operational settings of the first train as a function of at least one of distance or time along the route;

automatically controlling the first train according to the trip plan as the first train travels along the route segment, said trip plan being configured for increasing efficiency of the first train by at least one of reducing fuel use of the first train or reducing emissions produced by the first train along the segment of the route;

measuring actual efficiency of the train during travel of the first train according to the trip plan; and

updating the trip plan during travel of the first train based on the actual efficiency that is measured.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising revising the trip plan based on at least one of new route data or train data received as the first train travels along the route.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the trip plan is further created based on current operational information of the first train, and wherein the trip plan is revised into a revised trip plan based on new or updated current operational information of the first train as the first train travels along the route.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein creating the trip plan and revising the trip plan further comprises factoring in environmental conditions into the revised trip plan.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising manually limiting a speed of the first train.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising creating separate trip plans for each of a plurality of segments of the route, wherein at least one of the multiple segments is determined by a natural location along the trip, a siding where a meet and pass may occur, a yard siding, or a waypoint.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising combining trip plan optimization of the separate trip plans created for the plurality of route segments.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising implementing train handling rules to control a power setting of the one or more locomotive consists to achieve a target speed.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a power setting for each locomotive in the one or more locomotive consists to optimize a train speed based on the trip plan and a location of the first train.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining several trip plans that include the trip plan for the at least a segment of the route and presenting the several trip plans to a user to allow the user to select a trip plan to execute.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the user may decide when to control at least one of a propulsion system and braking system of the first train.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the trip plan includes a slack time period based on at least one of a confidence or a probability of occurrence of an unplanned delay in the trip plan.

13. The method according to claim 1 further comprising updating the trip plan based on a predetermined plan parameter, wherein the plan parameter is at least one of a track condition, a request by dispatch, a change in conditions of the one or more locomotives, track speed limits, or operator input.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein creating the trip plan comprises factoring in arrival time management.

15. The method according to claim 1, further comprising communicating information related to at least one of the trip plan an updated trip plan to an operator.

16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising logging and reporting performance of the first train versus the trip plan.

17. The method according to claim 1, further comprising using the trip plan to coach an operator of the first train.

18. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

communicating an optimal power requirement; and

operating the first train or a locomotive or locomotive consist in the first train in accordance with the optimal power requirement.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising directing an operator to operate at least one of the train, the locomotive consist, or the one or more locomotives in the first train in accordance with the optimal power requirement.

20. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

communicating an optimal throttle setting; and

automatically operating at least one of the first train, the locomotive consist, or the one or more locomotives in accordance with the optimal throttle setting.

21. The method according to claim 1, wherein the trip plan comprises a plurality of power settings for the first train, expressed as a function of at least one of distance or time along the route.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the trip plan is configured for reducing the emissions produced by the first train.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a train-to-train communication from a separate, second train as the first train is traveling according to the trip plan and revising the trip plan of the first train based on the train-to-train communication received from the second train.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the train-to-train communication notifies the first train that the second train is behind schedule and the trip plan is revised to coordinate movement of the first train with movement of the second train that is behind schedule.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the trip plan is created to increase the efficiency of the train by reducing at least one of fuel used or emissions produced as an objective of the trip plan, and further comprising changing the objective of the trip plan as a function of distance of the train to a destination location of the trip.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the trip plan includes examining previously determined trip plans and selecting the trip plan from the previously determined trip plans based on at least one of a comparison between a current train configuration and previous train configurations associated with the previously determined trip plans, a comparison between the route of the train and previously traveled routes associated with the previously determined trip plans, or a comparison between current environmental conditions and previous environmental conditions associated with the previously determined trip plans.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the trip plan is created using a designated time period that a current crew of operators the train is allowed to operate onboard the train, the trip plan created to include one or more stops of the train to allow the current crew of operators to be replaced with a replacement crew of operators.

28. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining several trip plans that include the trip plan that is communicated to the train and presenting the several trip plans to an operator disposed onboard the train to allow the operator to select which of the several trip plans is to be used to control operations of the train.