Potential and benefits of AIS to Ships and Maritime Administrations

The Universal Automatic Identification System (AIS) provides a huge variety of potential applications and services which exceed the well known ship-to-ship data exchange. The purpose of this paper is to address the most important AIS services, in particular the AIS position report and the AIS safety-related and binary messages (“AIS telegrams”). The main issue is the impact of this new technology on the on-board use of AIS in collision avoidance (and its limitations) as well as the impact on shore-based services such as Vessel Traffic Service (VTS), port management and the need of an effective AIS network.     

Economics of regulation in shipping

In this paper the author explores the nature and scope of social regulation in shipping comparing its nature with that of economic regulation per se. Whilst economic regulation affects liner shipping only, social regulation—impelled by a specific concern for health and environmental protection, rather than a desire for optimal resource allocation—effects all types of shipping. The legislation emerging from this has had important (and often overlooked)economic impact; focusing on the conditions, under which a carrier discharges his duties, these regulations may determine, to a greater or lesser degree, the levels of cost and service. He concludes that, whilst the concept of social regulation has a valid, humanitarian base, the cost of its implementation should not be underestimated.     

Facing the challenge of the future by strategic planning for public transport in Germany

Dramatic deteriorations in the future development of demographic and socio-economic factors having a decisive impact on public transport demand in 2000 - 2030 are predicted. How can a reasonable public transport service be maintained under these changing conditions? Depending on the entrepreneurial objectives defined individually by each public transport company a range of strategic actions must be taken in the field of offer and performance: Advancing strategies, consolidation strategies and defensive strategies are discussed with the stress laid on improving service in order to attract more ridership.     

德国不限速高速公路路面平整度评价方法综述

平整度是衡量路面质量、评价行车舒适度的重要指标。德国拥有12.993万km的高速公路，其中约2/3的路段没有速度限制，因此德国交通管理部门对路面的功能性和安全性提出了极高的要求。针对上述课题，首先介绍中国"超级公路"的建设背景和需求，强调德国路面的平整度指标对中国道路建设的重要借鉴意义；然后回顾国内外道路平整度的评价和预测等研究手段与方法，介绍德国基于功率谱密度曲线的平均不平整指数（AUN），分析将功率谱密度曲线转化为高度-波长曲线的优点，叙述考虑人车振动反应的有效平整度指数（LWI），简述加权纵断面评价方法（WLP）的思路和步骤；最后总结德国路面平整度评价体系的发展趋势和对于中国道路平整度研究的借鉴与应用前景。     

Testing and Approval Procedures for New Slab Track Systems in Europe

This paper describes the required testing and approval procedures of new track systems operated in Europe. To begin with, test methods and performance specifications according to European Standard (EN) are outlined. These include the repeated loading test, the determination of the static and dynamic stiffness of rail pads, clamping force and longitudinal rail resistance. The fact that labor tests are unable to simulate all the conditions in situ shows that these labor tests are not sufficient for the evaluation of the long term behaviour of a new track system: a test track of sufficient length must be constructed and exposed to traffic loads. In Europe to be accredited as a new system, a new slab track system must have a trial time of more than two years, during which the features of the whole system can be recognized. In the second part of this paper, the experience of the Institute of Road, Railway and Airfield Construction of TUM concerning the measuring methods of slab track systems carrying traffic are outlined. Also the approval procedure of the new slab tracks in Germany is discussed.     

Real-time capable vehicle-trailer coupling by algorithms for differential-algebraic equations

The real-time simulation of vehicle trains requires an accurate and numerically feasible representation of the vehicle-trailer coupling. Although the equations of motion for the chassis instances can be reduced to systems of ordinary differential equations, additional constraints on the relative motion of vehicle and trailer are introduced when considering the hitch. In this article, we present a strategy for the simulation of vehicle-trailer combinations, where the algebraic constraints of the coupling are treated explicitly. Although this approach allows exact modeling of the respective joint geometry and realistic calculation of the coupling forces, a suitable numerical algorithm is required in order to solve the resulting differential-algebraic system of index 3 in real-time. The implementation in a commercial vehicle dynamics program is discussed and real-time simulation results are shown, which prove its feasibility for different coupling joints and demanding driving maneuvers.     

Dynamics of five-bar COBOT using differential mechanism

COBOT is a new kind of collaborative robot, which can work with people in a shared space. In this paper a new kind of CVT using differential mechanism is introduced, which is major parts of five-bar COBOT and based the feature of nonhlonnmie constraint. The dynamic model of differential mechanism and five-bar architecture COBOT is founded. There are two kinds of coupled mode of two CVT:serial and parallel. In this paper, we present the dynamic model of serial and parallel COBOT take five-bar COBOT as research object. From the dynamic analysis foregoing, both serial and parallel COBOT model are have the feature of nonholonomic constraint. The ending track and moving state are controlled by the force of control motor and operator. The control motor can not control the movement and ending track of COBOT witbout the cooperation of cperator.     

Simulation methods supporting homologation of Electronic Stability Control in vehicle variants

ABSTRACT

Vehicle simulation has a long tradition in the automotive industry as a powerful supplement to physical vehicle testing. In the field of Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system, the simulation process has been well established to support the ESC development and application by suppliers and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). The latest regulation of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe UN/ECE-R 13 allows also for simulation-based homologation. This extends the usage of simulation from ESC development to homologation. This paper gives an overview of simulation methods, as well as processes and tools used for the homologation of ESC in vehicle variants. The paper first describes the generic homologation process according to the European Regulation (UN/ECE-R 13H, UN/ECE-R 13/11) and U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS 126). Subsequently the ESC system is explained as well as the generic application and release process at the supplier and OEM side. Coming up with the simulation methods, the ESC development and application process needs to be adapted for the virtual vehicles. The simulation environment, consisting of vehicle model, ESC model and simulation platform, is explained in detail with some exemplary use-cases. In the final section, examples of simulation-based ESC homologation in vehicle variants are shown for passenger cars, light trucks, heavy trucks and trailers. This paper is targeted to give a state-of-the-art account of the simulation methods supporting the homologation of ESC systems in vehicle variants. However, the described approach and the lessons learned can be used as reference in future for an extended usage of simulation-supported releases of the ESC system up to the development and release of driver assistance systems.

Abbreviations: ABS: Anti-lock braking system; ADR: Australian design rules; ALB: Automatic load-dependent brake force controller; AMEVSC: Alternative method to assess the electronic vehicle stability control system; APP: Application; BSC: Brake slip controller; CAE: Computer-aided engineering; CAN: Controller area network; CAT: Category; CoG: Centre of gravity; DIN: Deutsches Institut für Normung (German Institute for Standards); EB+: Trademark of Haldex; EBD: Electronic brake force distribution; EBS: Electronic brake system; ECU: Electronic control unit; ESC: Electronic stability control; ECVWTA: European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval; FMVSS: Federal motor vehicle safety standards; GPS: Global positioning system; GRRF: Groupe de travail en matiere de roulement et de freinage (Working Party on Braking and Running Gear); HiL: Hardware-in-the-Loop; HSRI: Highway Safety Research Institute; K&C: Kinematic and compliant (KnC); MBS: Multibody systems; MPV: Multipurpose vehicle; NHTSA: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; OEM: Original equipment manufacturer; SiL: Software-in-the-Loop; ST: Summer tyres; STM: Single track model; StVO: Straßenverkehrsordnung (Government Highway Regulations); SUV: Sports utility vehicle; SW: Software; SwD: Sine with dwell manoeuvre; TC: Threshold consumption value; TCS: Traction control system; TRIAS: Test Requirements and Instructions for Automobile Standards; UN/ECE: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe; VAF: Value-added function; VDC: Vehicle dynamics controller; VTC: Vehicle test catalogue; WT: Winter tyres     

Program for catenary–pantograph analysis,PrOSA statement of methods and validation according EN 50318

DB Systemtechnik is a high-performing, customer-driven service provider that, as well as authoritatively serving the Deutsche Bahn Group by dint of its specialist knowledge is also increasingly active on the global railway market. Development and testing of pantograph models and catenary systems have been part of the company's essential activity fields from the beginning. Therefore, an efficient and high-performing simulation tool is indispensable. That is why DB Systemtechnik spent high efforts to develop the program PrOSA in cooperation with the Heinz–Nixdorf–Institut (HNI) of the university Paderborn to simulate the interaction of pantograph and catenary. This article gives an overview of the most relevant properties of PrOSA. Furthermore, it is described how the benchmark requirements were implemented and processed.