Search

This paper presents automatic guidance control of a single-articulated all-wheel-steered vehicle being developed by the Korea Railroad Research Institute. The vehicle has an independent drive motor on each wheel except for the front axle. The guidance controller is designed so that the vehicle follows the given reference path within permissible lateral deviations. We use a three-input/three-output linearised model derived from the nonlinear dynamic model of the vehicle. For the purpose of simplifying the controller and making it tunable, we consider a decentralised control configuration. We first design a second-order decoupling compensator for the two-input/two-output system that is strongly coupled and then design a first-order controller for each decoupled feedback loop by using the characteristic ratio assignment method. The simulation results for the nonlinear dynamic model indicate that the proposed control configuration successfully achieves the design objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The microworld simulator paradigm is well established in the areas of ship-navigation and spaceflight, but has yet to be applied to rail. This paper presents a case study aiming to address this research gap, and describes the development of a train driving microworld as a tool to overcome some common research barriers. A theoretical framework for microworld design is tested and used to explore some key methodological issues and characteristics of train driving, enhancing theory development and providing a useful guideline for the designers of other collision-avoidance systems. A detailed description is given of the ATREIDES (Adaptive Train Research Enhanced Information Display & Environment Simulator) microworld, which simulates the work environment of a train driver in a high-speed passenger train. General indications of the testable driving scenarios that may be simulated are given, and an example of an ATREIDES-based study is presented to illustrate its applied research potential. The article concludes with a review of the design process, considers some strengths and limitations, and explores some future initiatives towards enhancing the systematic study of rail research in the human factors community. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Responses of test train running on track irregularities artificially set on SHINKANSEN and results of vehicle dynamics simulation were compared at a speed up to 2l0km/h. In comparison between the measurements and simulation using basic parameters, the response to alignment irregularity of the measurements and simulation for the wave length longer than 40m is nearly identical, although that of simulation becomes apparently larger than that of measurements for wave length of 20m. Then the state of track irregularity artificially set was precisely investigated and an enlargement of gauge in the section of 20m wave length was found. And simulation of the response assuming the gauge enlargement was nearly identical with that of measurements. In this report, the influence of wave length and gauge variation on the response to track irregularity mentioned above is analyzed by comparing between measurements and simulation. Besides, using the same simulation program, the influence of gauge variation on carbody hunting motion of a new high speed SHINKANSEN train which has soft suspension between carbody and bogie due to bolsterless bogie is studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This special issue is based on a selection of the four best papers from the Third International Seminar on Railway Operations Modelling and Analysis held in Zurich from 11 to 13 February 2009. The papers have been selected and reviewed by Board and other senior members of the International Association of Railway Operations Research (IAROR) and subsequently revised by their authors. The authors and their papers come from universities in Sweden, The Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland and Portugal. They represent valuable contributions to the current state of scientific and professional knowledge in the area of railway operations that can stimulate the broader application and further development of advanced analytical, combinatorial and simulation models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]