Optimal Operation of High-Speed Trains Using Hybrid Model Predictive Control

The high-speed train operation process is highly nonlinear and has multiple constraints and objectives, which lead to a requirement for the automatic train operation (ATO) system. In this paper, a hybrid model predictive control (MPC) framework is proposed for the controller design of the ATO system. Firstly, a piecewise linear system with state and input constraints is constructed through piecewise linearization of the high-speed train’s nonlinear dynamics. Secondly, the piecewise linear system is transformed into a mixed logical dynamical (MLD) system by introducing the auxiliary binary variables. For the transformed MLD system, a hybrid MPC controller is designed to realize the precise control under hard constraints. To reduce the online computation complexity, the explicit control law is computed offline by employing the mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) technique. Simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.