Autonomous Fleet Coordination With Leader-Follower Vehicle Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing cost of manpower in mass transportation due to human drivers in follower vehicles hinders the minimization of transportation costs, necessitating a more efficient self-driving coordination system.
Innovation Solution
A self-driving coordination system comprising a leader and follower vehicles with advanced and simplified control devices, respectively, connected through a server for bidirectional data transmission, allowing the followers to economically follow the leader without human intervention, using advanced and simplified collecting units, communication modules, and decision-making units for smooth, safe, and cost-effective operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If human drivers are used in follower vehicles, then driving coordination and safety are maintained, but transportation cost increases due to manpower expenses
Solution Approach 1:
The follower vehicle is equipped with an automated control unit that receives control instructions from the leader vehicle and autonomously executes driving operations. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for human drivers in follower vehicles, reducing manpower costs while maintaining coordinated fleet operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes bidirectional communication between leader and follower vehicles through vehicle-to-vehicle communication modules. The leader vehicle transmits control instructions based on its driving state, and the follower vehicle provides feedback on its status, enabling automated coordination without human intervention.
2Loss of energy
If automated control units are installed in all follower vehicles, then manpower cost is reduced, but system complexity increases due to communication and coordination requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into distinct functional modules: a leader control unit with an advanced collecting unit for comprehensive environmental perception, and follower control units with simplified collecting units that receive pre-processed control instructions. This segmentation reduces the computational burden and complexity of each individual unit while maintaining overall system functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The leader vehicle acts as an intermediary that processes environmental information and generates control instructions for follower vehicles. This intermediary role centralizes complex decision-making in the leader vehicle, allowing follower vehicles to use simpler control units that merely execute received instructions, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
3Measurement precision
If the leader vehicle uses an advanced collecting unit, then driving information accuracy is improved, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different vehicles in the fleet are assigned different levels of equipment quality according to their functional requirements. The leader vehicle, which requires comprehensive environmental perception and decision-making capabilities, is equipped with an advanced collecting unit featuring multiple sensors including LiDAR, cameras, and radar. Follower vehicles, which only need to execute pre-determined control instructions, are equipped with simplified collecting units, thereby optimizing cost while maintaining necessary performance.
Data Source
AI summary
A self-driving coordination system and the control method thereof are disclosed. The system and the control method are applied to an all-self-driving vehicle fleet. The self-driving coordination system comprises a leader control device, a follower control device, and a server. The leader control device is mounted in a leader. The follower control device is mounted in a follower. The leader control device and the follower control device communicate with each other for bidirectional data transmission. The server communicates with the leader control device and the follower control device for respective bidirectional data transmission.