Determining and using braking capabilities of vehicles for platooning deceleration operations

Abstract

Platoon management control systems and methods arrange two or more vehicles cooperatively travelling seriatim as a platoon along an associated roadway into a platoon arrangement in accordance with their relative braking capabilities and other brake-related performance characteristics such as braking efficiency. Braking efficiency can change over time and is in general affected by many factors suchas brake temperature, brake type, burnishing, vehicle weight, number of tires, tire wear, vehicle loading, road surface type and weather conditions. The relative braking capabilities are learned or otherwise calculated or determined in each vehicle and shared between the vehicles of the platoon. The platoon may be reorganized based on differences between the learned or otherwise calculated or determined relative braking capabilities. Desired gaps between the platooning vehicles may be increased or decreased in accordance with the learned or otherwise calculated or determined relative brakingcapabilities as necessary or desired.

Description

technical field [0001] Embodiments herein relate generally to highway vehicle queue management. More specifically, certain embodiments relate to commercial highway vehicle platoon management in which it is desirable to have two or more vehicles travel in concert along associated roadways in a queue based on their relative braking capabilities and other braking-related performance characteristics. into a queue. Although embodiments will be described with reference to selected specific examples, such as two or more vehicles traveling in platoon, it should be understood that the claimed invention is applicable to other applications and is equally extendable to other applications. Examples and environments. [0002] Cross References to Related Applications [0003] This application is related to U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 395,160, filed December 30, 2016, and entitled "Changing the Distance Between Vehicles in a Platoon," Attorney Docket No. 013097-000016, December 2016 U....

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

That is, one or more changes in the braking capacity of the first vehicle in the platoon cannot be reliably estimated for any other vehicle in the platoon

This makes it more difficult to manage queues that are critical to the gap distance between vehicles

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