Connected Vehicle Positioning in Mixed Traffic Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In mixed traffic environments, connected vehicles and non-connected vehicles interact in ways that can lead to suboptimal traffic flow and driving inefficiencies due to the limited perception capabilities of non-connected vehicles, resulting in amplified driving errors and inefficiencies when non-connected vehicles are grouped together without connected vehicles intervening.
Innovation Solution
A system and method where connected vehicles and roadside units gather sensor data to determine current vehicle configurations, transmitting this information to an edge server that calculates an optimal vehicle configuration and determines driving maneuvers for connected vehicles to improve traffic flow by strategically positioning them to mitigate the inefficiencies of non-connected vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If non-connected vehicles are grouped together without connected vehicles intervening, then the perception limitations of non-connected vehicles are amplified leading to driving errors, but the traffic flow efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Connected vehicles serve as intermediary units between non-connected vehicles, receiving sensor data from non-connected vehicles and relay processed information back to them. This mediator role allows non-connected vehicles to benefit from enhanced perception capabilities without requiring them to be directly connected, thus mitigating driving errors while maintaining natural traffic flow patterns
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback loops where sensor data from non-connected vehicles is collected, processed by connected vehicles or roadside infrastructure, and then relayed back to the original non-connected vehicles. This feedback mechanism enables non-connected vehicles to make more informed driving decisions by receiving processed environmental information that compensates for their limited perception capabilities
2Productivity
If connected vehicles strategically position themselves among non-connected vehicles to improve traffic flow, then overall traffic efficiency increases, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Connected vehicles pre-position themselves in optimal locations within the traffic flow before inefficiencies develop. The system predicts potential bottlenecks or error-prone situations and places connected vehicles strategically in advance to prevent problems rather than react to them, reducing the need for complex real-time coordination
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning of connected vehicles is dynamic rather than static. Connected vehicles continuously adjust their positions based on real-time traffic conditions, maintaining optimal placement to maximize their effectiveness in improving traffic flow while adapting to changing environmental factors and traffic patterns
3Productivity
If connected vehicles use sensor data to determine optimal configurations and transmit maneuvers, then driving efficiency improves, but the communication infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple data sources including sensor data from connected vehicles, roadside infrastructure observations, and information from non-connected vehicles into a unified traffic management platform. This consolidation allows the system to process comprehensive traffic information through a single coordination mechanism, reducing the communication burden on individual vehicles while maintaining high driving efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes receiving, from connected vehicles, first locations of a first set of vehicles in an initial vehicle configuration; receiving, from a roadside unit, second locations of a second set of vehicles in the initial vehicle configuration; determining locations of connected vehicles and non-connected vehicles in the initial vehicle configuration based on the first locations and the second locations; determining an optimal vehicle configuration comprising desired locations of the connected vehicles and the non-connected vehicles based on the locations of the connected vehicles and the non-connected vehicles in the initial vehicle configuration, and predetermined optimization criteria; determining driving maneuvers to be performed by the connected vehicles to achieve the optimal vehicle configuration; and transmitting the determined driving maneuvers to the connected vehicles.