Wavelet-Based Analysis of Motor Current Signals for Detecting Obstacles in Train Doors

Trains used in urban mass passenger transit often have side entrance doors through which passengers can rapidly enter and exit the train. These doors are typically electrically powered and automated. Many incidents have occurred in which a passenger is trapped and injured while passing through the d...

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Main Authors: Yaojung Shiao, Premkumar Gadde, Chun-Yu Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/1/25
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author Yaojung Shiao
Premkumar Gadde
Chun-Yu Liu
author_facet Yaojung Shiao
Premkumar Gadde
Chun-Yu Liu
author_sort Yaojung Shiao
collection DOAJ
description Trains used in urban mass passenger transit often have side entrance doors through which passengers can rapidly enter and exit the train. These doors are typically electrically powered and automated. Many incidents have occurred in which a passenger is trapped and injured while passing through the doors as they are closing. Existing solutions rely on sensitive-edge sensors and current signal peak detection in the time domain to detect door obstructions. However, these methods have notable limitations: sensors are expensive, and sensor failure can result in safety risks, while time-domain signal analysis is prone to noise, potentially leading to false peak detection. The proposed efficient and cost-effective method enhances safety by implementing the torque control of a DC motor which limits the door closing force to prevent potential injuries. In addition, it reduces reliance on traditional edge sensors, which are prone to failure and may result in undetected obstructions. By using a robust time–frequency domain approach, the system ensures more accurate detection, minimizing potential injury risks. An obstruction of the door causes a corresponding change in the motor current. These changes can be detected by using the discrete wavelet transform to decompose the current signal. The norm and peak of the current are used as obstacle detection features, and appropriate threshold values are obtained from a simulation. The simulation results were validated through an experiment. The proposed novel system effectively detects forces between 100 and 200 N (indicating the presence of an object) within 0.3 s and complies with EN14752 safety standard. It can also differentiate between soft and hard objects trapped in train doors.
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spelling doaj-art-df9c702ae67a43e2a0384f4f8b1efeda2025-01-10T13:14:11ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172024-12-011512510.3390/app15010025Wavelet-Based Analysis of Motor Current Signals for Detecting Obstacles in Train DoorsYaojung Shiao0Premkumar Gadde1Chun-Yu Liu2Department of Vehicle Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 10608, TaiwanDepartment of Vehicle Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 10608, TaiwanMechanical and Systems Research Laboratories (MSL), Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), Hsinchu 310401, TaiwanTrains used in urban mass passenger transit often have side entrance doors through which passengers can rapidly enter and exit the train. These doors are typically electrically powered and automated. Many incidents have occurred in which a passenger is trapped and injured while passing through the doors as they are closing. Existing solutions rely on sensitive-edge sensors and current signal peak detection in the time domain to detect door obstructions. However, these methods have notable limitations: sensors are expensive, and sensor failure can result in safety risks, while time-domain signal analysis is prone to noise, potentially leading to false peak detection. The proposed efficient and cost-effective method enhances safety by implementing the torque control of a DC motor which limits the door closing force to prevent potential injuries. In addition, it reduces reliance on traditional edge sensors, which are prone to failure and may result in undetected obstructions. By using a robust time–frequency domain approach, the system ensures more accurate detection, minimizing potential injury risks. An obstruction of the door causes a corresponding change in the motor current. These changes can be detected by using the discrete wavelet transform to decompose the current signal. The norm and peak of the current are used as obstacle detection features, and appropriate threshold values are obtained from a simulation. The simulation results were validated through an experiment. The proposed novel system effectively detects forces between 100 and 200 N (indicating the presence of an object) within 0.3 s and complies with EN14752 safety standard. It can also differentiate between soft and hard objects trapped in train doors.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/1/25current sensorobstacle detectiontrain doorwavelet transform
spellingShingle Yaojung Shiao
Premkumar Gadde
Chun-Yu Liu
Wavelet-Based Analysis of Motor Current Signals for Detecting Obstacles in Train Doors
Applied Sciences
current sensor
obstacle detection
train door
wavelet transform
title Wavelet-Based Analysis of Motor Current Signals for Detecting Obstacles in Train Doors
title_full Wavelet-Based Analysis of Motor Current Signals for Detecting Obstacles in Train Doors
title_fullStr Wavelet-Based Analysis of Motor Current Signals for Detecting Obstacles in Train Doors
title_full_unstemmed Wavelet-Based Analysis of Motor Current Signals for Detecting Obstacles in Train Doors
title_short Wavelet-Based Analysis of Motor Current Signals for Detecting Obstacles in Train Doors
title_sort wavelet based analysis of motor current signals for detecting obstacles in train doors
topic current sensor
obstacle detection
train door
wavelet transform
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/1/25
work_keys_str_mv AT yaojungshiao waveletbasedanalysisofmotorcurrentsignalsfordetectingobstaclesintraindoors
AT premkumargadde waveletbasedanalysisofmotorcurrentsignalsfordetectingobstaclesintraindoors
AT chunyuliu waveletbasedanalysisofmotorcurrentsignalsfordetectingobstaclesintraindoors