An Efficient Move-Blocking MPC Approach for Coordinated Control of Multiple Power Units of High-Speed Trains

Abstract Integrating train operation control with the coordination of multiple power units in high-speed trains (HSTs) presents both conceptual interest and technical challenges. This paper proposes an efficient coordinated control strategy for multiple power units in HSTs.The designed controller rapidly and intelligently allocates control forces among the power units, thereby enhancing control precision and ensuring smooth train operation. To accurately capture the dynamic behavior of the train, a multi-particle dynamic model is developed, incorporating traction and braking forces, nonlinear resistance, and inter-units coupler forces. A comprehensive cost function is formulated to simultaneously minimize tracking errors, energy consumption, and coupler forces. To address the optimal control problem under the constraint of limited onboard computational resources, a move-blocking strategy is embedded within the model predictive control (MPC) framework. This approach not only enables effective coordination among multiple power units but also significantly improves computational efficiency. Finally, a series of case studies based on operational data from the Beijing–Shanghai high-speed railway are conducted. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach successfully achieves coordinated control of multiple power units, with a 91.57% reduction in speed tracking error and a 95.41% reduction in coupler force, highlighting its effectiveness and practical applicability.