System and method for scheduling and train control
AssigneeHarris Corporation
InventorsWilliam L. Matheson, Paul M. Julich, Michael S. Crone, Douglas A. Thomae, Thu V. Vu, M. Scott Wills
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A scheduling system and method for moving plural objects through a multipath system described as a freight railway scheduling system. The scheduling system utilizes a cost reactive resource scheduler to minimize resource exception while at the same time minimizing the global costs associated with the solution. The achievable movement plan can be used to assist in the control of, or to automatically control, the movement of trains through the system.
Claims26
A method of operating a locomotive having an on-board processor for controlling the operation of the locomotive to move an attached train in compliance with a movement plan over a planned track route to arrive at a planned location at a planned time, the method comprising:
- (a) determining a position of the locomotive along the track;
- (b) determining a time of the locomotive corresponding to the determined position of the locomotive;
- (c) communicating a train movement plan to the locomotive for at least a next segment of track toward the next planned location;
- (d) accessing at least one track parameter for the next track segment, the track parameter including at least the topography of the next track segment;
- (e) simulating the motion of the locomotive and attached train by advancing the time and position of the locomotive to the next track segment as a function of the track parameter;
- and
- (f) using the on-board processor to calculate throttle and brake settings for the locomotive based on the track parameter and simulation to enable the locomotive to move an attached train in accordance with the train movement plan, wherein the on board processor simulates the motion of the locomotive and attached train over a physical detailed model of the track.
A system for controlling the operation of a locomotive to move an attached train in compliance with a movement plan over a planned track route to arrive at a planned location at a planned time, the method comprising:
- a location processor for determining a position of the locomotive along the track;
- a communications channel for communicating a train movement plan to the locomotive for at least a next segment of track toward the next planned location;
- a database of at least one track parameter for the next track segment, the track parameter including at least the topography of the next track segment;
- and
- a train control processor for simulating the motion of the locomotive and attached train by advancing the time and position of the locomotive along the next track segment as a function of the track parameter and calculating throttle and brake settings for the locomotive based on the track parameter and simulation to enable the locomotive to move an attached train in accordance with the train movement plan, wherein the on board processor simulates the motion of the locomotive and attached train over a physical detailed model of the track.
A computer program product for operating a locomotive having an on-board processor for controlling the operation of the locomotive to move an attached train in compliance with a movement plan over a planned track route to arrive at a planned location at a planned time, said computer program comprising:
- a computer usable medium having computer readable program codes modules embodied in said medium for controlling the operation of a locomotive and attached train;
- a computer readable first program code module for determining a position of the locomotive along the track;
- a computer readable second program code module for receiving a train movement plan for at least a next segment of track toward the next planned location;
- a computer readable third program code for accessing a database of at least one track parameter for the next track segment, the track parameter including at least the topography of the next track segment;
- and
- a computer readable fourth program for calculating throttle and brake settings for the locomotive based on the track parameter and for simulating the motion of the locomotive and attached train by advancing the time and position of the locomotive and attached train to the next track segment as a function of the track parameter, wherein the simulation is performed over a physical detailed model of the track to enable the locomotive to move the attached train in accordance with the train movement plan.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.