High-speed train control based on multiple-model adaptive control with second-level adaptation

Speed uplift has become the leading trend for the development of current railway traffic. Ideally, under the high-speed transportation infrastructure, trains run at specified positions with designated speeds at appointed times. In view of the faster adaptation ability of multiple-model adaptive control with second-level adaptation (MMAC-SLA), we propose one type of MMAC-SLA for a class of nonlinear systems such as cascaded vehicles. By using an input decomposition technique, the corresponding stability proof is solved for the proposed MMAC-SLA, which synthesises the control signals from the weighted multiple models. The control strategy is utilised to challenge the position and speed tracking of high-speed trains with uncertain parameters. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed MMAC-SLA can achieve small tracking errors with moderate in-train forces incurred under the control of flattening input signals with practical enforceability. This study also provides a new idea for the control of in-train forces by tracking the positions and speeds of cars while considering power constraints.     

A yaw-moment control method based on a vehicle's lateral jerk information

Previously, a new control concept called ‘G-vectoring control (GVC)’ to improve vehicle agility and stability was developed. GVC is an automatic longitudinal acceleration control method that responds to vehicle lateral jerk caused by the driver's steering manoeuvres. In this paper, a new yaw-moment control method, which generates a stabilising moment during the GVC command and has positive acceleration value and the driver's accelerator pedal input is zero, was proposed. A new hybrid control, which comprises GVC, electric stability control and this new control, was constructed, and it was installed in a test vehicle and tested on a snowy surface. The very high potential for improvement in both agility and stability was confirmed.     

Robust cascade control for the horizontal motion of a vehicle with single-wheel actuators

The article presents a cascade control for the horizontal motion of a vehicle with single-wheel actuators. The outer control loop for the longitudinal and lateral accelerations and the yaw rate ensures a desired vehicle motion. By a combination of state feedback control and observer-based disturbance feedforward the inner control loop robustly stabilises the rotating and steering motions of the wheels in spite of unknown frictions between tyres and ground. Since the three degrees of freedom of the horizontal motion are affected by eight tyre forces, the vehicle considered is an over-actuated system. Thus additional control objectives can be realised besides the desired motion trajectory as, for example, a maximum in driving safety. The corresponding analytical tyre force allocation also guarantees real-time capability because of its relatively low computational effort. Provided suitable fault detection and isolation are available, the proposed cascade control has the potential of fault-tolerance, because the force allocation is adaptable. Another benefit results from the modular control structure, because it allows a stepwise implementation. Besides, it only requires a small number of measurements for control purposes. These measurements are the rotational speeds and steering angles of the wheels, the longitudinal and lateral acceleration and the yaw rate of the vehicle.     

A receding horizon sliding control approach for electric powertrains with backlash and flexible half-shafts

Active control of electric powertrains is challenging, due to the fact that backlash and structural flexibility in transmission components can cause severe performance degradation or even instability of the control system. Furthermore, high impact forces in transmissions reduce driving comfort and possibly lead to damage of the mechanical elements in contact. In this paper, a nonlinear electric powertrain is modelled as a piecewise affine (PWA) system. The novel receding horizon sliding control (RHSC) idea is extended to constrained PWA systems and utilised to systematically address the active control problem for electric powertrains. Simulations are conducted in Matlab/Simulink in conjunction with the high fidelity Carsim software. RHSC shows superior jerk suppression and target wheel speed tracking performance as well as reduced computational cost over classical model predictive control (MPC). This indicates the newly proposed RHSC is an effective method to address the active control problem for electric powertrains.     

Insights into vehicle trajectories at the handling limits: analysing open data from race car drivers

Race car drivers can offer insights into vehicle control during extreme manoeuvres; however, little data from race teams is publicly available for analysis. The Revs Program at Stanford has built a collection of vehicle dynamics data acquired from vintage race cars during live racing events with the intent of making this database publicly available for future analysis. This paper discusses the data acquisition, post-processing, and storage methods used to generate the database. An analysis of available data quantifies the repeatability of professional race car driver performance by examining the statistical dispersion of their driven paths. Certain map features, such as sections with high path curvature, consistently corresponded to local minima in path dispersion, quantifying the qualitative concept that drivers anchor their racing lines at specific locations around the track. A case study explores how two professional drivers employ distinct driving styles to achieve similar lap times, supporting the idea that driving at the limits allows a family of solutions in terms of paths and speed that can be adapted based on specific spatial, temporal, or other constraints and objectives.     

城市交通状态的空间依赖性和异质性分析

有关城市交通状态空间特征的研究相对匮乏。从空间角度分析城市宏观交通特征,首先,针对城市路网几何形态和交通数据的关系提出适合于城市交通数据分析的空间模型。然后,以从长期的浮动车数据中提取的路段行程速度作为描述交通状态的实验数据,分别采用空间自相关和核密度估计法定量分析路网行程速度的空间依赖性和空间异质性,并分析其在典型时段的空间分布特征。结果显示:城市交通状态的关联性在空间上随着路段间距的增长而衰减;城市交通状态的空间分布特征随时间变化,受路网结构和区域功能的影响在空间中呈现集聚特征。     

一类离散陀螺系统特征值反问题

考虑由两个实值非奇异矩阵,一个对称,一个反对称,所定义的2n个一阶常微分方程刻画的陀螺系统特征值反问题。在给定完整谱数据及部分谱数据两种情况下,给出了可解性条件及解的表示。     

中国铁路管理信息系统的结构分析

在对我国铁路各主要职能部门管理信息系统的信息交流关系定性分析的基础上,运用总体结构等级分析法明确各管理信息系统的地位和相互关系,提出铁路管理信息系统集成应该以具有强关联的运输管理信息系统为核心,以安全、财会管理信息系统为引导,抓住重点,运用基层运输管理信息系统的推动作用和上层安全、财会管理信息系统的拉动作用加快铁路信息化的发展.     

国外基于MBSE的列车领域研究现状探析

介绍了基于模型的系统工程的定义和发展历程.分别对庞巴迪和阿尔斯通两家公司在MBSE方面的研究和应用情况进行了分析,具体分析其建模工具和建模实例,还分析了Connecta和Safe4Rail项目的实施过程以及主要的研究内容.分析结果表明,MBSE已经在国外的列车领域经历了学习、探索和应用推广的过程,并在新产品的研发过程中...     

Phase change analysis of an underwater glider propelled by the ocean's thermal energy

The phase change characteristic of the power source of an underwater glider propelled by the ocean's thermal energy is the key factor in glider attitude control. A numerical model has been established based on the enthalpy method to analyze the phase change heat transfer process under convective boundary conditions. Phase change is not an isothermal process,but one that occurs at a range of temperature. The total melting time of the material is very sensitive to the surrounding temperature. When the temperature of the surroundings decreases 8 degrees,the total melting time increases 1.8 times. But variations in surrounding temperature have little effect on the initial temperature of phase change,and the slope of the temperature time history curve remains the same. However,the temperature at which phase change is completed decreases significantly. Our research shows that the phase change process is also affected by container size,boundary conditions,and the power source's cross sectional area. Materials stored in 3 cylindrical containers with a diameter of 38mm needed the shortest phase change time. Our conclusions should be helpful in effective design of underwater glider power systems.