Heavy Vehicle Management System for Connected Automated Highways
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for managing and controlling connected and automated heavy vehicles (CAHVs) are expensive, complex, and unreliable, lacking a comprehensive solution for providing detailed and time-sensitive control instructions for vehicle following, lane changing, and route guidance, especially for special vehicles like oversize, overweight, and hazardous material transporters.
Innovation Solution
A comprehensive system comprising a roadside unit (RSU) network, Traffic Control Unit (TCU) and Traffic Control Center (TCC) network, onboard unit (OBU), and a cloud-based platform, which provides real-time communication, sensing functions, and vehicle control instructions for vehicle following, lane changing, and route guidance, specifically designed for CAHVs and special vehicles, using wireless and wired communications, and incorporating sensors like radar and vision systems for environmental sensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing freight management systems are used for heavy automated vehicles, then basic vehicle detection and navigation are achieved, but the systems are expensive, complicated, and unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into multiple functional modules including roadside units (RSUs) for sensing and communication, onboard units (OBUs) for vehicle-specific control, cloud-based platforms for data processing, and hierarchical traffic control centers. Each module performs specialized functions, reducing overall system complexity while improving reliability through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
Roadside units act as intermediaries between the cloud-based platform and individual vehicles, receiving sensing data from the environment and transmitting control instructions to vehicles. This intermediary layer simplifies the architecture by centralizing communication protocols and data processing at strategic infrastructure points rather than requiring direct cloud-vehicle connections for all operations.
2Productivity
If detailed and time-sensitive control instructions are provided to individual vehicles, then vehicle following, lane changing, and route guidance are optimized, but real-time communication and processing requirements increase system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The cloud-based platform pre-processes sensing data from roadside units and pre-calculates control instructions for multiple vehicles in advance, based on predicted traffic patterns and vehicle trajectories. This preliminary processing reduces real-time computational requirements and enables faster transmission of ready-to-execute control instructions to individual vehicles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous real-time communication channels between roadside units, onboard units, and the cloud platform, ensuring uninterrupted flow of sensing data and control instructions. This continuous data exchange enables seamless vehicle following, lane changing, and route guidance operations without communication gaps that would disrupt traffic flow efficiency.
3Reliability
If comprehensive sensing functions and real-time data exchange are implemented, then safety and security are enhanced, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Roadside units are designed as multi-functional devices that simultaneously perform environmental sensing (radar, vision systems), wireless communication with vehicles, data validation, and preliminary control instruction generation. This universal design consolidates multiple functions into single infrastructure components, enhancing safety through comprehensive monitoring while reducing the number of separate systems required.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where roadside units monitor vehicle positions and conditions, the cloud platform analyzes this data against safety criteria, and control instructions are transmitted back to vehicles in real-time. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enhances safety and security by dynamically adjusting vehicle operations based on current traffic conditions, vehicle states, and environmental factors.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides designs and methods for a heavy vehicle operations and control system for heavy automated vehicles, which facilitates heavy vehicle operation and control for connected automated vehicle highway (CAVH) systems. The heavy vehicle management system provides heavy vehicles with individually customized information and real-time vehicle control instructions to fulfill the driving tasks such as car following, lane changing, route guidance. The heavy vehicle management system also realizes heavy vehicle related lane design, transportation operations, and management services for both dedicated and non-dedicated lanes. The heavy vehicle management system consists of one or more of the following physical subsystems: (1) Roadside unit (RSU) network, (2) Traffic Control Unit (TCU) and Traffic Control Center (TCC) network, (3) vehicles and onboard units (OBU), (4) traffic operations centers (TOCs), and (5) cloud platform. The heavy vehicle management system realizes one or more of the following function categories: sensing, transportation behavior prediction and management, planning and decision making, and vehicle control. The heavy vehicle management system is supported by road infrastructure design, real-time wired and/or wireless communication, power supply networks, and cyber safety and security services.