A Model Predictive Control Based Inter-Station Driving Strategy for Virtual Coupling Trains in Railway System

Luo, Xiaolin; Liu, Hongjie; Zhang, Lei; Xun, Jing

doi:10.1109/itsc48978.2021.9564895

Cited by 15 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…The results show that the controller parameters selected in the stable region can ensure the stability of the trains in virtual formation even under the influence of initial disturbances. A nonlinear model predictive control system was designed in [34]. The nonlinear distance control objective function and the continuous variable speed limit in the inter-station are considered in the constraints.…”

Section: ) Methods Based On Optimal Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Able to improve the capability [7], [30] Able to maintain safe operation [31], [32] Suitable for analyzing the stability [33], [34], [35], [36] Suitable for modeling nonlinear optimization control problems [37], [38], [39] D: Computational Intelligent Method Suitable for scenarios where multiple trains converge to form a formation [42] Has the potential to be used in this area…”

Section: C: Optimal Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Survey on Control Methods for Virtual Coupling in Railway Operation

Xun

Liu

et al. 2022

IEEE Open J. Intell. Transp. Syst.

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In order to meet the rapid growth of railway transportation demand, the technology that can improve its capacity has been widely concerned. Virtual Coupling (VC) is a new technology to improve capacity by decreasing headways between successive trains. Its basic principle is to control the train formation operation in coordination with the goal of keeping the same speed under the support of data transmission technology such as train-to-train communication. Our paper first reviews the existing theoretical research on train formation operation control, which is divided into four categories: train following, feedback control, optimal control and computational intelligent method. Secondly, by reviewing the related projects in Europe and China, based on the scenario analysis method, five general scenarios and two emergency scenarios in the whole process of VC operation are sorted out. Then, an original, complete list of performance indicators (PIs) is proposed for evaluating the performance of VC in different scenarios. Additionally, the paper gives a brief insight into VC operation by providing an adequate context to understand the proposed PIs.

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Section: ) Methods Based On Optimal Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: C: Optimal Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Survey on Control Methods for Virtual Coupling in Railway Operation

Xun

Liu

et al. 2022

IEEE Open J. Intell. Transp. Syst.

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“…Considering the requirement of the small following distance, a controller tuning algorithm is proposed by Luo, Tang, Yin, Liu (2023) to shorten the following distance. Considering the implicit safety constraints, the spacing policy can be implicitly evaluated by MPC approaches (Luo, Liu, et al., 2021), where the optimal control problem is solved by iterative methods. However, the critical problem is that the computation time of iterative methods cannot satisfy the real‐time requirement in practical engineering.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

A hierarchical control approach for virtual coupling in metro trains

Liu,

Luo,

Tang

et al. 2023

Computer aided Civil Eng

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As an emerging technology, virtual coupling improves the efficiency and flexibility of metro services by forming multiple trains (units) as a virtually coupled train set (VCTS) without mechanical couplers. However, to realize the desired VCTS operation in practical metro services, a significant gap to be filled is that the implicit and nonlinear safety constraints are hard to be addressed in real‐time control. Thus, this paper proposes a hierarchical control approach with a two‐layer framework. In the upper layer, a trajectory planning method is designed, which addresses the safety constraints and prescribes a reference trajectory for each unit. In the lower layer, a model predictive control approach is constructed, by which each unit accurately tracks its reference trajectory in real time. Afterward, the proposed hierarchical control approach is employed to realize VCTS inter‐station operation in field tests. The average tracking error of speed is around 8 cm/s and the stopping error is less than 12 cm. The following distance between two units in VCTS is reduced to less than 105 m at the speed of 80 km/h, which is a breakthrough in the development of VCTS.

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“…Additionally, for high-speed trains, the authors in [12] proposed a control strategy focused on both the local and string stability under variant manoeuvres in high-speed scenarios using an analytical algorithm based on Pontryagin's maximum principle. Similarly, the authors in [13,14] applied an NMPC in metro lines.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Robust Model Predictive Control for Virtual Coupling in Train Sets

2022

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In recent decades, the demand for rail transport has been growing steadily and faces a double problem. Not only must the transport capacity be increased, but also a more flexible service is needed to meet the real demand. Both objectives can be achieved through virtual coupling (VC), which is an evolution of the current moving block systems. Trains under VC can run much closer together, forming what is called a virtually coupled train set (VCTS). In this paper, we propose an approach in which virtual coupling is implemented via model predictive control (MPC). For this purpose, we define a robust controller that can predict, based on a dynamic model of the train, the state of the system at later moments of time and make the appropriate control decisions. A robust MPC (RMPC) is obtained by introducing two uncertain variables. The first uncertain variable is added to the acceleration equation of the dynamic model, while the second uncertain variable is used to define the uncertainty in the train positioning. To test the RMPC for virtual coupling, two simulation cases are performed for a metro line, analysing the influence of both the uncertainties. In all cases, the results obtained show a safer operation of the virtual coupling without significantly affecting the service.

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A Model Predictive Control Based Inter-Station Driving Strategy for Virtual Coupling Trains in Railway System

Cited by 15 publications

References 17 publications

A Survey on Control Methods for Virtual Coupling in Railway Operation

A Survey on Control Methods for Virtual Coupling in Railway Operation

A hierarchical control approach for virtual coupling in metro trains

A Robust Model Predictive Control for Virtual Coupling in Train Sets

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