Autonomous Driving Trains to Pass in Bidirectional Crossing Loop Preventing Stops

Abstract

This study presents an intelligent approach based on software agents capable of conducting and coordination trains in stretches of single railway track, aiming to optimizing the utilization of railway and reduce environment impacts. In the Brazilian rail modal, due to the low duplication of tracks, trains that journey on single railways should accomplish required halts, in order to wait for other trains to use the crossing loop safely. The technological evolution resulted on the appearance of new railway traffic system control. However, systems that rely on software agents are not well explored yet. Therefore, this study elaborated a Intelligent System capable of simulating railway environment using agent drivers and agents with a highest level in managing the railway tracks. The behaviour of agents was based on specialized rules of conduction and his proactivity is based in obtain a sage driving with informations of position and time limit to the end of journey. The coordination between them occurs through message exchanges, always aiming to avoid halts during the journey. Results have shown an strong average reduction of 22.5% in journey time and 25.5% in fuel consumption when compared to journeys using the traditional method of conduction. The reduction, not only on the journey time, but also on the fuel consumption, entails on the decrease of CO2 emission.