Onboard Active Obstacle Detection System for the Area Directly Related to Train Running and Its Application

Objective In order to solve the lag problem of current passive detection methods in detecting the obstacles in the area directly related to train running (hereinafter referred to as train running area or TRA), reserve more reaction time for train braking, reduce the incidence of train accidents, and mitigate the consequence of the train accidents, it is necessary to study the onboard active TRA obstacle detection technology. Method Through uniting the combination of multiple sensors and detection sub-tasks with the train signal system units, an active onboard detection system is proposed to actively detect whether there are obstacles intruding in the TRA boundary. Through testing the above system in the straight TRA with different obstacles, the effective identification distances of the obstacles are obtained. Result & Conclusion The above system can provide the train with autonomous perception ability, timely sending alarm messages or starting train braking when obstacles intruding in the boundary appear in the front TRA.