Autonomous Vehicle Platoon Leader Negotiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current transportation methods, including human-driven vehicles, are costly and contribute to traffic congestion, making it inefficient to transport goods over long distances, especially when multiple destinations are involved, as a single large vehicle may not be economically efficient for split deliveries.
Innovation Solution
Systems and methods for autonomous vehicles to communicate and negotiate to determine a leader within a group, allowing them to travel collectively and efficiently split at appropriate junctions to optimize routes and tasks, reducing duplication and conserving resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single large vehicle is used to transport goods to multiple destinations, then the vehicle can deliver large quantities of materials, but it is not economically efficient when split deliveries are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a single large vehicle into multiple smaller autonomous vehicles that can travel in a platoon configuration. Each vehicle is independently controlled but coordinates with others through communication systems, allowing split deliveries to multiple destinations while maintaining the efficiency of group transportation.
Solution Approach 2:
The platoon of autonomous vehicles dynamically adjusts its configuration based on delivery requirements. Vehicles can join or leave the platoon at different junctions, and the leader vehicle changes based on route optimization needs, enabling flexible response to multiple destination requirements.
2Productivity
If human employees drive transportation vehicles, then goods can be transported, but transportation costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous vehicles navigate and make routing decisions independently without human intervention. The vehicles self-coordinate through communication systems, with the leader vehicle automatically determined through negotiation protocols, eliminating the need for human drivers while maintaining efficient transportation.
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous vehicles use sensor systems to continuously monitor their environment and communicate with each other, receiving feedback on route conditions, traffic, and destination requirements. This feedback loop enables real-time optimization of the platoon's routing and formation without human input.
3Productivity
If multiple autonomous vehicles travel as a group, then traffic congestion is reduced, but coordination and communication between vehicles becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple autonomous vehicles merge into a coordinated platoon that travels together, optimizing road space utilization. The vehicles combine their navigation and communication capabilities into a unified system led by a leader vehicle, reducing individual complexity while achieving collective efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The leader vehicle acts as an intermediary that centralizes decision-making for the platoon. Instead of each vehicle independently coordinating with every other vehicle, the leader receives information from followers and makes routing decisions, simplifying the communication architecture.
4Adaptability or versatility
If autonomous vehicles negotiate to establish a leader, then routing flexibility is improved, but negotiation and decision-making time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous vehicles conduct preliminary negotiations to establish a leader before beginning their journey. This preliminary action allows the platoon to have a designated leader ready for immediate decision-making, avoiding delays during actual travel while maintaining routing flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The leader vehicle is not fixed but can dynamically change based on routing needs. The negotiation system allows any vehicle in the platoon to become the leader if it has superior routing information or capabilities, enabling flexible adaptation to changing conditions without permanent hierarchical constraints.
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments include systems, methods, and apparatuses capable of determining a leader of a group of autonomous vehicles. In some embodiments, a system of autonomous vehicles comprises two or more autonomous vehicles each having a communication device and in communication with one another, each of the two or more autonomous vehicles configured to travel as a group, receive and transport goods, communicate with others of the two or more autonomous vehicles in the group, and conduct a negotiation to establish at least one leader, wherein any one of the two or more autonomous vehicles can become the at least one leader.