Patent ID: 7822491

Claim:
A method of monitoring the progress of a train on a rail network and providing driving advice in real time to an operator of the train, said method comprising: (i) estimating or determining parameters of the train; (ii) determining, by an optimal control algorithm employing an adjoint variable, an optimal journey profile for a journey from the train's current location to a target location that results in the train arriving at the target location as close as possible to a desired time and with minimum energy usage; said optimal journey profile including a speed profile for the train, sequence of discrete control modes for the train, and associated switching points between the control modes; the optimal journey profile being determined by solving a system of differential equations for the speed profile of the train and for the value of the adjoint variable and wherein the sequence of discrete control modes is a function of the value of the adjoint variable and is determined as the speed profile is calculated, and wherein drive, hold, coast and brake control modes are each utilizable as one of the control modes in said sequence of discrete control modes; (iii) monitoring the current state of the train as it progresses to said target location; and (iv) generating said driving advice for the train operator by comparing the current state of the train to a corresponding state on said optimal journey profile and displaying said advice for the train operator that will keep the train close to said optimal journey profile.