Autonomous Roadway Transit Control for Urban Chokepoints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autonomous vehicles in congested urban areas face limited transportation improvements due to chokepoints and high infrastructure costs, while conventional mass transit systems lack flexibility and capacity.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising partially autonomous vehicles operating on partially separated interconnected roadways, managed by a control system that coordinates vehicle assignments and operations to optimize traffic flow and passenger matching, using area controllers and sensors to ensure continuous and efficient transportation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional mass transit systems are used, then high capacity is provided on planned routes, but infrastructure costs are extremely high and flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the transportation network into dedicated roadway segments (trunk segments, distributor segments, access segments) that can be independently managed and optimized. This allows high-capacity transit functionality to be distributed across multiple smaller, less expensive infrastructure components rather than requiring a single complex mass transit system
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous vehicles serve multiple functions: they operate on dedicated roadways for high-capacity transit while also being able to access general roadways, providing both mass transit efficiency and flexible door-to-door service. The vehicles can function as personal transportation, shared rides, or integrated into the dedicated roadway system
2Adaptability or versatility
If autonomous vehicles operate in congested urban areas, then personalized transportation is provided, but transportation improvements are limited due to overall congestion and chokepoints
Solution Approach 1:
The dedicated roadway system acts as an intermediary between autonomous vehicles and the general traffic network. Vehicles can use the dedicated roadways for efficient, congestion-free travel between origins and destinations, only interacting with general traffic at access points, thereby avoiding the negative effects of urban congestion while maintaining personalized service
3Adaptability or versatility
If light rail and similar systems are implemented, then some transit demand is addressed, but capacity is not high enough to address demand in extremely congested areas
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the capacity and configuration of the dedicated roadway network based on demand. Multiple autonomous vehicles can operate on the same roadway segment simultaneously, and the system can activate or deactivate roadway segments as needed, providing scalable capacity that adapts to varying transit demands without the fixed infrastructure constraints of light rail
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes at least partially autonomous vehicles, at least partially separated interconnected roadways, and a management system. Each of the vehicles is configured to cooperate with another vehicle or an area controller. The management system is configured to receive requests to transport, which may have respective start points and respective destinations. Additionally, the management system is configured, responsive to receiving the request, to assign a vehicle to fulfill the request. The assigned vehicle is configured to transport a person from the respective start point, at least in part via the interconnected roadways, to the respective destination.