IP Library Granted Patent US 9,595,189
Granted Patent B2
US 9,595,189 · App. 14/767,199 · Granted Mar 14, 2017

Traffic control device, traffic control method, and program

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,595,189
App. No.
14/767,199
Granted
Mar 14, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Adjustment values, including a station stop time or a departure interval, are set for each vehicle. Next, the set adjustment values and a traveling pattern are used to calculate the power consumption by and regenerative power from each vehicle when in operation for each time point. Next, the total vehicle power at each time point is calculated by subtracting the total regenerative power from braking vehicles from the total power consumption by powering vehicles one a per time point basis. Next, a positive value or a negative value is extracted from the total vehicle power at each time point. Next, an evaluation value is calculated using the absolute value of the total of the extracted values. Next, adjustment values that produce the smaller evaluation value are identified.

Claims (40)

1. A traffic control device that manages operation of a plurality of vehicles operating in a predetermined traveling pattern, the traffic control device comprising:

an adjustment value setting unit that sets an adjustment value including at least one of a station stop time and a departure interval for each vehicle;

an electric power calculation unit that calculates power consumption and regenerative power of each vehicle when the vehicles travel using the adjustment value set by the adjustment value setting unit and the traveling pattern on a per time point basis;

an evaluation value calculation unit that, on the per time point basis on which the electric power calculation unit calculates the power consumption and the regenerative power, executes a step of calculating a total vehicle power at each time point by subtracting a total of regenerative power from braking vehicles from a total of power consumption from powering vehicles, a step of extracting at least one value of a positive value and a negative value from the total vehicle power at each time point, and a step of calculating an evaluation value using an absolute value of a total of the extracted values; and

an optimum value identification unit that identifies the adjustment value producing a smaller evaluation value calculated by the evaluation value calculation unit,

wherein, on the per time point basis, the evaluation value calculation unit subtracts, from a total of a maximum value of power consumption from each powering vehicle for a predetermined variation time centering the time point, the total of regenerative power from each braking vehicle for the variation time to calculate the total vehicle power at the time point.

2. The traffic control device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the evaluation value calculation unit calculates the evaluation value by adding, for each vehicle, a value based on a difference between the adjustment value of the vehicle and a reference value of the adjustment value determined in advance to the absolute value of the total of the extracted values.

3. The traffic control device according to claim 2 ,

wherein the adjustment value includes the departure interval, and

wherein the evaluation value calculation unit calculates the evaluation value by adding a penalty value to the absolute value of the total of the extracted values, the penalty value calculated by multiplying a square sum of a difference between the departure interval of each vehicle and a reference value of the departure interval by a predetermined weight.

4. The traffic control device according to claim 2 ,

wherein the adjustment value includes the station stop time, and

wherein the evaluation value calculation unit calculates the evaluation value by adding a penalty value to the absolute value of the total of the extracted values, the penalty value calculated by multiplying a square sum of a difference between a sum of the station stop time at each station of an inter-station traveling time and a reference value of a round-trip time by a predetermined weight.

5. The traffic control device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the adjustment value setting unit sets said at least station stop time as the adjustment value, and

the evaluation value calculation unit calculates the evaluation value by adding, to the absolute value of the total of the extracted values, a penalty value when the station stop time is shorter than a minimum station stop time determined in advance for each vehicle.

6. The traffic control device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a traveling pattern setting unit that sets one of a plurality of traveling patterns for at least one of the vehicles and routes between stations,

wherein the electric power calculation unit calculates the power consumption and the regenerative power of each vehicle when the vehicles travel on the per time point basis using the adjustment value set by the adjustment value setting unit and the traveling pattern set by the traveling pattern setting unit, and

the optimum value identification unit identifies the adjustment value and the traveling pattern that produce a smaller evaluation value calculated by the evaluation value calculation unit.

7. The traffic control device according to claim 6 ,

wherein the plurality of traveling patterns is different in a maximum speed with same starting acceleration and stopping acceleration.

8. The traffic control device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the variation time is set for each station.

9. A traffic control method for a plurality of vehicles operating in a predetermined traveling pattern, the traffic control method comprising:

a step of setting an adjustment value including at least one of a station stop time and a departure interval for each vehicle;

a step of calculating power consumption and regenerative power of each vehicle when the vehicles travel using the set adjustment value and the traveling pattern on a per time point basis;

a step of calculating a total vehicle power at each time point by subtracting a total of regenerative power from braking vehicles from a total of power consumption from powering vehicles on the per time point basis;

a step of extracting at least one value of a positive value and a negative value from the total vehicle power at each time point;

a step of calculating an evaluation value using an absolute value of a total of the extracted values;

a step of identifying the adjustment value producing a smaller evaluation value; and

a step of operating the plurality of vehicles in the adjustment value identified,

wherein on the per time point basis, the step of calculating the evaluation value includes subtracting from a total of a maximum value of power consumption from each powering vehicle for a predetermined variation time centering the time point, the total of regenerative power from each braking vehicle for the variation time to calculate the total vehicle power at the time point.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium which stores a program that causes a computer of a traffic control device, which manages operation of a plurality of vehicles operating in a predetermined traveling pattern, to function as:

an adjustment value setting unit that sets an adjustment value including at least one of a station stop time and a departure interval for each vehicle,

an electric power calculation unit that calculates power consumption and regenerative power of each vehicle when the vehicles travel using the adjustment value set by the adjustment value setting unit and the traveling pattern on a per time point basis;

an evaluation value calculation unit that, on the per time point basis on which the electric power calculation unit calculates the power consumption and the regenerative power, executes a step of calculating a total vehicle power at each time point by subtracting a total of regenerative power from braking vehicles from a total of power consumption from powering vehicles, a step of extracting at least one value of a positive value and a negative value from the total vehicle power at each time point, and a step of calculating an evaluation value using an absolute value of a total of the extracted values; and

an optimum value identification unit that identifies the adjustment value producing a smaller evaluation value calculated by the evaluation value calculation unit and operates the plurality of vehicles in the adjustment value identified,

wherein, on the per time point basis, the evaluation value calculation unit subtracts, from a total of a maximum value of power consumption from each powering vehicle for a predetermined variation time centering the time point, the total of regenerative power from each braking vehicle for the variation time to calculate the total vehicle power at the time point.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 14, 2023
From: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES ENGINEERING, LTD.
To: MHI ENGINEERING, LTD.
Reel/Frame 066014/0774 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Dec 14, 2023
From: MHI ENGINEERING, LTD.
To: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
Reel/Frame 066014/0870 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 30, 2018
From: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
To: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES ENGINEERING, LTD.
Reel/Frame 046499/0613 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 11, 2015
From: TAKAO, KENJI; NIINOMI, TOSHIHIKO; KONO, TAKAYUKI
To: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
Reel/Frame 036300/0526 →