Method for automatic operation of a vehicle

Claim 1

A method for automatic operation of a vehicle in which a vehicle is automatically controlled in accordance with control commands for operating a traction controller and a brake controller of the vehicle in order to run with required speed patterns through a plurality of regions into which a distance between two stations is divided, comprising the steps of: preparing a table representative of a relation between a plurality of region control patterns for vehicle control, each of which designates control commands which are applied to the respective regions, and a plurality of performance index patterns relating to a plurality of predetermined performance indices reflecting the result of running of the vehicle when the vehicle is controlled in accordance with said region control patterns; designating a performance index pattern for running of the vehicle from one station to the next station before the vehicle departs from the one station; determining a region control pattern corresponding to said designated performance index pattern on the basis of said table; and applying the control commands in accordance with said determined region control pattern to the vehicle speed control to run the vehicle.

Claim 2

A method for automatic operation of a vehicle in which a vehicle is automatically controlled in accordance with control commands for operating a traction controller and a brake controller of the vehicle in order to run with required speed patterns through a plurality of regions into which a distance between two stations is divided, comprising the steps of: preparing a table representative of a relation between a plurality of region control patterns for vehicle control, each of which designates control commands which are applied to the respective regions, and a plurality of performance index patterns relating to a plurality of predetermined performance indices reflecting the result of running of the vehicle when the vehicle is controlled in accordance with said region control patterns; designating a performance index pattern for running of the vehicle from one station to the next station before the vehicle departs from the one station; determining a region control pattern corresponding to said designated performance index pattern on the basis of said table; and applying the control commands in accordance with said determined region control pattern to the vehicle speed control to run the vehicle.

Claim 9

A method of automatic train operation of a train between stations using predetermined control parameters with one or more ground markers placed between stations, comprising a first step of recording as control parameters the train speed, a target train speed, residual running time and scheduled power consumption after the train has passed each of said ground markers on schedule running time; a second step of recording as control parameters the increased value of running time and decreased value of power consumption in case the lower target train speed is lowered when the train passes each of said ground markers; a step of determining, when the train passes each of said ground markers, as a control parameter a lower target train speed which demands the least power consumption and satisfies a target running time to be spent until the train reaches an arriving station, said target running time being preset before the train has started from a departing station; and a step of running the train in accordance with the control parameters including at a lower target train speed for a determined distance.

Claim 10

A method of automatic train operation of a train between stations using predetermined control parameters with one or more ground markers placed between stations, comprising a first step of recording as control parameters the train speed, a target train speed, residual running time and scheduled power consumption after the train has passed each of said ground markers on schedule running time; a second step of recording as control parameters the increased value of running time and decreased value of power consumption in case the lower target train speed is lowered when the train passes each of said ground markers; a step of determining, when the train passes each of said ground markers, as a control parameter a lower target train speed which demands the least power consumption and satisfies a target running time to be spent until the train reaches an arriving station, said target running time being preset before the train has started from a departing station; and a step of running the train in accordance with the control parameters including at a lower target train speed for a determined distance.

Claim 18

A method for automatic vehicle operation in which a vehicle is automatically controlled in accordance with control commands for operating a traction controller and a brake controller of the vehicle in order to run with required speed patterns through a plurality of regions into which a distance between two stations is divided, comprising the steps of: preparing a first table containing standard train speeds relating to the respective regions, standard residual running time from one station to the next station, and scheduled power consumption estimated when the vehicle is run with a standard speed pattern, and preparing a second table containing increased running time and decreased power consumption in case the vehicle is run for a predetermined distance for a reduced lower target speed for each of the regions; designating a target running power which is required for the vehicle running from the one station to the next station before the vehicle departs from the one station; running the vehicle by said control commands in accordance with said standard speed patterns; substracting a time of elapse after vehicle departure from said target running time to calculate a target residual running time permitting the vehicle to arrive at the next station; calculating a reduced target speed lower limit value for saving of power consumption to correspond to a surplus time equal to the difference between the target residual running time and the standard residual running time by reference to said first and second tables when the vehicle passes by standard points relating to the respective regions; and running tbe vehicle at a speed of said reduced target speed lower limit value for a predetermined distance designated by said second table.

Claim 19

A method for automatic vehicle operation in which a vehicle is automatically controlled in accordance with control commands for operating a traction controller and a brake controller of the vehicle in order to run with required speed patterns through a plurality of regions into which a distance between two stations is divided, comprising the steps of: preparing a first table containing standard train speeds relating to the respective regions, standard residual running time from one station to the next station, and scheduled power consumption estimated when the vehicle is run with a standard speed pattern, and preparing a second table containing increased running time and decreased power consumption in case the vehicle is run for a predetermined distance for a reduced lower target speed for each of the regions; designating a target running power which is required for the vehicle running from the one station to the next station before the vehicle departs from the one station; running the vehicle by said control commands in accordance with said standard speed patterns; substracting a time of elapse after vehicle departure from said target running time to calculate a target residual running time permitting the vehicle to arrive at the next station; calculating a reduced target speed lower limit value for saving of power consumption to correspond to a surplus time equal to the difference between the target residual running time and the standard residual running time by reference to said first and second tables when the vehicle passes by standard points relating to the respective regions; and running tbe vehicle at a speed of said reduced target speed lower limit value for a predetermined distance designated by said second table.