Vehicle Convoy V2V Delay Control for Stable Close Platooning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle platooning systems face instability and reduced fuel efficiency due to limitations in vehicle-to-vehicle communication delay times, which affect the maintenance of small distances and high speeds, leading to potential safety and control issues.

Innovation Solution

A method that determines the maximum delay time for vehicle-to-vehicle communication based on kinematic targets and vehicle-specific control parameters to ensure column stability, allowing for efficient transmission resource allocation and precise control of kinematic parameters between vehicles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the distance between vehicles in a convoy is reduced to improve fuel efficiency and traffic throughput, then fuel consumption decreases and traffic efficiency increases, but column stability deteriorates due to disturbance propagation and amplification

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel consumptionVSAvoidcolumn stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a control loop that continuously monitors actual distances between vehicles and compares them to target distances, using feedback signals to adjust vehicle speeds and maintain stable platooning formation. This feedback mechanism prevents disturbance amplification by actively correcting deviations before they propagate through the convoy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts kinematic target parameters (distance and speed) based on feedback from distance sensors and communication with other vehicles. By changing these parameters in real-time, the system maintains optimal spacing that ensures both fuel efficiency and column stability under varying operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the distance between vehicles is reduced to increase traffic throughput, then vehicle throughput increases, but safety and controllability deteriorate due to disturbance amplification

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle throughputVSAvoidsafety and controllability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control system uses continuous feedback from inter-vehicle distance measurements to adjust speeds and maintain safe spacing. This active feedback control ensures that even at reduced distances for higher throughput, the system can detect and correct potential safety issues before they become critical failures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-calculates and maintains target distance and speed parameters that inherently provide safety margins. By establishing these kinematic targets in advance based on vehicle dynamics and communication capabilities, the system ensures safety and controllability are built into the operational parameters before disturbances occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of time

If the period of data transmission session is reduced to improve communication timeliness, then communication delay decreases, but transmission resource efficiency deteriorates due to increased transmission frequency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication delayVSAvoidtransmission resource efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adjustment of transmission periods based on actual platoon operating conditions. When the platoon is stable and operating normally, longer transmission periods are used to conserve resources. When disturbances are detected or stability is compromised, the system dynamically shortens transmission periods to improve communication timeliness and restore stability, thus optimizing the balance between delay and resource efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Stability of the object's composition

If the period of data transmission session is reduced to maintain column stability at high speeds, then column stability is maintained, but transmission resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolumn stabilityVSAvoidtransmission resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts transmission period duration based on actual platoon stability conditions and operating speed. At high speeds where stability is more critical, the system uses shorter transmission periods to maintain column stability. When speeds are lower or stability is already maintained, longer periods reduce resource consumption. This dynamic adaptation optimizes the trade-off between stability maintenance and resource usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3957094B1Method for monitoring a vehicle convoy by means of vehicle-to-vehicle communication
Publication Date: 2023.10.11 VODAFONE GMBH
  • EP3957094B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3957094B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3957094B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for monitoring a vehicle convoy containing at least two vehicles (1.1, 1.2), wherein the at least two vehicles (1.1, 1.2) in the vehicle convoy are each formed with a communication system, which is configured to use vehicle-to-vehicle communication to send and/or receive information, and a measuring apparatus, which is configured to capture values for at least one kinematic state parameter. The method involves kinematic state parameters being ascertained and regulated for at least one pair of vehicles (1.1, 1.2) in the vehicle convoy, which pair is formed by a first vehicle (1.1) in the vehicle convoy and a second vehicle (1.2) in the vehicle convoy arranged directly after the first vehicle (1.1) in the vehicle convoy, by means of allocated time and frequency resources.