Hello,
I am using TS2009 with latest update.
Until recently I've been staying away from AI operations and complex signaling schemes. I've been building mostly. Its time to set up some realistic train operations.
I close to finishing up signaling my "large" route for AI "traffic" operations. The route has 5 double track portals that are sending and receiving trains. Each portal is staggered to send in intervals of 10 to 20 minutes depending on the distance from a traffic bottleneck on the way to one of the portals. This is where 3 double track sorts it way to the double track for the "busy city".
A train comes through every few minutes. Things get interesting when 3 trains arrive toward the "busy city" and one leaving, all at the same time.
After many experiment, I was able to let the AI trains run for 4 hours without any AI stand-offs, derailments or long lines of several trains waiting for clearance, AND no AIs backing up for miles. It took some doing.
While trying to sort out the MANY AI problems . . . by trial and error, I've come up with these questions.
1. AI Operation Manual ?
Does such a thing exist? This would be a manual that would say something like . . .
- - "An AI will "lock" the next junction in its path from x-number of distance from the next junction . . . etc. etc.
- - "When an AI is faced with a switch set against him, he will . . . etc. etc.
So on and so forth. Such a manual would be helpful . . . don't you think?
2. AI Junction "locking" :
It seems some "prototypical" train movements are impossible without a dispatcher present in a congested "bottleneck" exchange area. An AI will lock a junction from LONG distance away and hold up traffic.
I finally figured out that if I placed a "non-essential" junction in his path BEFORE the "bottleneck", he won't "lock" any junction needed for other trains to be passing through while he is just "approaching". Now I finally understand the "railroad" use of "Invisible Tracks & Junctions". The invisible junction was set FOR him.
Since this solution worked, even with the junction set FOR him, I am assuming that an AI can not "see" junctions past the next one. IS THIS CORRECT? Please confirm.
3. Closely spaced junctions - 10m apart :
I had situations where a train was stopped to allow another train to pass which disable the waiting AI to become UNABLE to control the SECOND junction. He was stuck. The funny thing is, if he was not facing a red signal at any time, he can navigate the closely spaced junction which is normally both set against him. The only difference is, when another train is passing, his red signal was kept at red until all the triggers for the passing train becomes "clear" from the "Trigger Multiple Signal" rule. He is not within any trigger that would keep his signal red.
He started moving when I switched the THIRD junction further down FOR his path. If the THIRD junction was needed for a yellow or green on his signal, why was he able to navigate through all three junction when no other train was passing? This one stumped me. The solution was to have the SECOND signal normally set FOR him. Somehow, after this change, he can "see" past the SECOND signal to switch the THIRD to get a green on the signal that held him for the passing train.
This seems to indicate that if an AI is faced with a red signal, THEN he can "see" down the line to get a yellow or a green.
> But how many junction can an AI control to get a signal to proceed ?
> If it is MORE THAN 2, why is the AI stuck and is unable to change the THIRD junction when all 3 was normally set AGAINST him?
> AND, why is ABLE TO PROCEED when only the SECOND junction is normally set FOR him?
> IS the problem caused simply by the SPACING between two consecutive junctions?
4. Trigger Multiple Signal Rule :
While this is rule that you can't live without . . .
This rule allows you to use the SAME trigger(s) ALREADY used for other TMS rules, you can use ONLY ONE SIGNAL for ONE TMS rule. I've come across several instances where I wanted to use the SAME SIGNAL for more than one Rule.
Is there another version of this rule that allows a signal to be used by more than one TMS rule?
5. Trigger Signal(s) by JUNCTION ?
Sometime it seems we would want to trigger signals that are NOT related to your OWN PATH just by the junction settings you make in your own path.
Does such a rule exist ??
--------------
Any comment, answers and/or explanations would be appreciated.
Anyone else with perplexing AI problems??
Thanks
I am using TS2009 with latest update.
Until recently I've been staying away from AI operations and complex signaling schemes. I've been building mostly. Its time to set up some realistic train operations.
I close to finishing up signaling my "large" route for AI "traffic" operations. The route has 5 double track portals that are sending and receiving trains. Each portal is staggered to send in intervals of 10 to 20 minutes depending on the distance from a traffic bottleneck on the way to one of the portals. This is where 3 double track sorts it way to the double track for the "busy city".
A train comes through every few minutes. Things get interesting when 3 trains arrive toward the "busy city" and one leaving, all at the same time.
After many experiment, I was able to let the AI trains run for 4 hours without any AI stand-offs, derailments or long lines of several trains waiting for clearance, AND no AIs backing up for miles. It took some doing.
While trying to sort out the MANY AI problems . . . by trial and error, I've come up with these questions.
1. AI Operation Manual ?
Does such a thing exist? This would be a manual that would say something like . . .
- - "An AI will "lock" the next junction in its path from x-number of distance from the next junction . . . etc. etc.
- - "When an AI is faced with a switch set against him, he will . . . etc. etc.
So on and so forth. Such a manual would be helpful . . . don't you think?
2. AI Junction "locking" :
It seems some "prototypical" train movements are impossible without a dispatcher present in a congested "bottleneck" exchange area. An AI will lock a junction from LONG distance away and hold up traffic.
I finally figured out that if I placed a "non-essential" junction in his path BEFORE the "bottleneck", he won't "lock" any junction needed for other trains to be passing through while he is just "approaching". Now I finally understand the "railroad" use of "Invisible Tracks & Junctions". The invisible junction was set FOR him.
Since this solution worked, even with the junction set FOR him, I am assuming that an AI can not "see" junctions past the next one. IS THIS CORRECT? Please confirm.
3. Closely spaced junctions - 10m apart :
I had situations where a train was stopped to allow another train to pass which disable the waiting AI to become UNABLE to control the SECOND junction. He was stuck. The funny thing is, if he was not facing a red signal at any time, he can navigate the closely spaced junction which is normally both set against him. The only difference is, when another train is passing, his red signal was kept at red until all the triggers for the passing train becomes "clear" from the "Trigger Multiple Signal" rule. He is not within any trigger that would keep his signal red.
He started moving when I switched the THIRD junction further down FOR his path. If the THIRD junction was needed for a yellow or green on his signal, why was he able to navigate through all three junction when no other train was passing? This one stumped me. The solution was to have the SECOND signal normally set FOR him. Somehow, after this change, he can "see" past the SECOND signal to switch the THIRD to get a green on the signal that held him for the passing train.
This seems to indicate that if an AI is faced with a red signal, THEN he can "see" down the line to get a yellow or a green.
> But how many junction can an AI control to get a signal to proceed ?
> If it is MORE THAN 2, why is the AI stuck and is unable to change the THIRD junction when all 3 was normally set AGAINST him?
> AND, why is ABLE TO PROCEED when only the SECOND junction is normally set FOR him?
> IS the problem caused simply by the SPACING between two consecutive junctions?
4. Trigger Multiple Signal Rule :
While this is rule that you can't live without . . .
This rule allows you to use the SAME trigger(s) ALREADY used for other TMS rules, you can use ONLY ONE SIGNAL for ONE TMS rule. I've come across several instances where I wanted to use the SAME SIGNAL for more than one Rule.
Is there another version of this rule that allows a signal to be used by more than one TMS rule?
5. Trigger Signal(s) by JUNCTION ?
Sometime it seems we would want to trigger signals that are NOT related to your OWN PATH just by the junction settings you make in your own path.
Does such a rule exist ??
--------------
Any comment, answers and/or explanations would be appreciated.
Anyone else with perplexing AI problems??
Thanks
