Intersection Platooning Control for Vehicle Separation in Dilemma Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing platooning technologies lack a specific plan for vehicles to navigate through dilemma zones at intersections, where vehicles cannot stop at the stop line due to yellow lights or cannot fully exit the intersection before them turning off.
Innovation Solution
A method for platooning vehicles to pass through intersections involves a lead vehicle obtaining intersection signal information, determining vehicle ranks, and separating a following platoon if they cannot pass together, with instructions for vehicles to standby or change routes for efficient rendezvous points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a common platooning plan is used for all situations, then the platooning system is simple to operate, but it cannot handle specific dilemma zone situations at intersections effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The platooning plan is segmented into different scenarios: common platooning for normal situations and specific dilemma zone handling for intersection situations. The system divides the decision-making process into distinct phases (detection, determination, execution) to manage complexity while improving adaptability to specific situations.
Solution Approach 2:
The platooning plan transitions from a static common plan to a dynamic adaptive plan that changes based on detected situations. The system dynamically adjusts the platooning strategy by detecting dilemma zone conditions and switching to appropriate handling procedures, making the system adaptable without requiring complete redesign for each scenario.
2Reliability
If all vehicles in the platoon attempt to pass through the intersection together, then the platoon maintains unity and coordination, but vehicles in the dilemma zone cannot stop safely or clear the intersection before the yellow light ends
Solution Approach 1:
The platoon is segmented into vehicles that can pass together and vehicles that must separate due to dilemma zone conditions. The system identifies which vehicles are affected by the dilemma zone and allows them to separate from the main platoon, ensuring safe passage while maintaining coordination for unaffected vehicles.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring all vehicles to pass together through the intersection, the system inverts the approach by allowing separation when necessary. The default becomes separation for dilemma zone vehicles, while coordination is maintained for others, reversing the traditional platooning assumption of unified movement.
3Reliability
If the platoon separates into forward and following platoons at the intersection, then vehicles can navigate the dilemma zone safely, but the platoon structure becomes more complex and requires additional coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The platoon structure is segmented into forward platoon (vehicles passing through intersection) and following platoon (vehicles waiting or separating). This segmentation allows safe navigation through the dilemma zone by clearly defining which vehicles proceed and which wait, while maintaining manageable structural complexity through organized separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The first vehicle acts as an intermediary that coordinates the separation between forward and following platoons. It determines vehicle ranks, identifies which vehicles should separate, and manages the transition, reducing the overall system complexity by centralizing coordination rather than requiring complex peer-to-peer communication among all vehicles.
4Ease of operation
If vehicles determine their own driving patterns in the dilemma zone, then each vehicle can make independent decisions, but coordinated platooning is lost and safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the first vehicle (leader) to guide follower vehicle decisions in the dilemma zone. The leader detects the situation, determines the appropriate response, and communicates this to followers, ensuring coordinated decision-making that maintains both safety and operational simplicity. Followers receive feedback about what actions to take rather than making independent decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
Vehicles in the following platoon use self-service by automatically executing the driving pattern determined by the first vehicle. Rather than making independent decisions, they follow the coordinated plan established by the leader, maintaining safety through centralized determination while enabling easy operation through automated execution of assigned patterns.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for platooning vehicles to pass by an intersection, includes obtaining, by a first vehicle controlling driving of a forward platoon, signal information of the intersection; determining, by the first vehicle, vehicle ranks of the forward platoon to pass by the intersection together based on the signal information; and determining, by the first vehicle, a second vehicle to control another driving of a following platoon to be separated from the forward platoon, in response to determining that the vehicle ranks do not pass by the intersection together.