Autonomous Vehicle Train Platoon Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current autonomous and partially-autonomous vehicles do not optimize traffic flow on highways, leading to underutilization of roads, confusion among drivers, and inefficiencies due to their individualistic driving approaches, which do not consider global traffic optimization.
Innovation Solution
The method involves vehicles communicating to form a 'vehicle train' by detecting and connecting with each other based on travel information, determining a lead vehicle, and physically or virtually linking to optimize speed and energy usage, allowing for coordinated movement and efficient road usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If autonomous vehicles maintain a buffer zone between vehicles, then safety is improved, but road utilization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple autonomous vehicles are merged into a platoon where the lead vehicle maintains normal following distance from the vehicle ahead, while trailing vehicles maintain reduced distances. This allows the platoon to function as a coordinated unit that improves road utilization while maintaining safety through collective awareness and control.
Solution Approach 2:
The platoon is segmented into a lead vehicle and trailing vehicles with different following distance requirements. The lead vehicle maintains a standard buffer zone for safety, while trailing vehicles operate at reduced distances, effectively dividing the safety function between vehicles with different spatial requirements.
2Reliability
If autonomous vehicles travel independently with buffer zones, then individual vehicle safety is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Vehicles merge into a platoon structure where trailing vehicles benefit from reduced drag and optimized aerodynamics by traveling closer to the lead vehicle. This collective arrangement reduces overall energy consumption while the lead vehicle maintains adequate safety distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The platoon system provides multiple functions: the lead vehicle maintains safety buffer zone, trailing vehicles reduce energy consumption through optimized spacing, and the collective platoon improves road utilization. Each vehicle serves multiple purposes within the coordinated system.
3Productivity
If vehicles use greedy approach to drive to destination, then individual travel efficiency is improved, but global traffic optimization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Individual vehicles merge their navigation and control functions into a coordinated platoon system. The lead vehicle's destination and route planning consider global traffic conditions, while trailing vehicles follow optimized paths, combining individual efficiency with global optimization.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for forming a vehicle train. An exemplary method may comprise: detecting, by a first vehicle, a second vehicle traveling in the same direction as the first vehicle on a road; receiving travel information of the second vehicle; determining, by the first vehicle, a lead vehicle of the vehicle train between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on travel information of the first vehicle and the travel information of the second vehicle; and connecting the first vehicle and the second vehicle to form the vehicle train.