Junction Traffic Scheduling for Non-Stop Vehicle Platoons
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing and scheduling transportation at junctions and crossroads efficiently to minimize travel time and reduce traffic jams, accidents, congestion, and hazardous emissions, while allowing vehicles to move without stopping at junctions.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for real-time traffic management using platoons of vehicles, where a representative vehicle leads a group of vehicles within a threshold distance, synchronized by virtual traffic policies and algorithms to optimize traffic flow, allowing vehicles to cross junctions without stopping through dynamic scheduling and virtual traffic lights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional traffic light scheduling is used at junctions, then vehicles must stop and wait for green lights, but this causes traffic jams, increases travel time, and delays overall traffic flow
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary scheduling of vehicles into time-separated batches before they reach the junction. The computer system divides approaching vehicles into batches and assigns specific time windows for crossing, allowing vehicles to approach and cross without stopping at traditional green light intervals. This preliminary organization eliminates the need for vehicles to stop and wait, directly reducing travel time while maintaining safe traffic flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts traffic management by continuously monitoring vehicle positions, speeds, and destinations in real-time. The computer system recalculates batch assignments and crossing times based on current traffic conditions, enabling adaptive optimization of traffic flow. This dynamic approach allows the system to respond to changing conditions while maintaining continuous movement and preventing traffic jams.
2Loss of time
If vehicles are scheduled to cross junctions without stopping, then travel time is reduced and traffic flow is optimized, but this requires complex real-time scheduling and coordination systems
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables vehicles to essentially self-manage their crossing by providing them with scheduled time windows and speed guidance. Each vehicle receives information about when it should cross and at what speed, allowing it to autonomously coordinate with other vehicles without requiring complex centralized control for every decision. The computer system sets the schedule, but vehicles execute it independently, reducing the complexity of real-time coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the continuous flow of traffic into discrete batches, with each batch assigned to a specific time window for crossing the junction. This segmentation simplifies the scheduling problem by breaking it down into manageable groups rather than trying to coordinate all vehicles simultaneously. Each batch is independently managed, making the overall system more tractable and easier to control.
3Device complexity
If traditional traffic scheduling is used, then system complexity is lower, but this results in traffic congestion, accidents, and hazardous emissions due to stopping and idling
Solution Approach 1:
The system ensures continuous movement of vehicles through the junction by eliminating stops and idle periods. Vehicles maintain steady speeds and cross during their assigned time windows without coming to a halt. This continuous motion prevents the formation of traffic congestion and reduces the time vehicles spend idling, directly lowering hazardous emissions while maintaining manageable system complexity through batch-based scheduling.
4Use of energy by moving object
If vehicles move in platoons with a representative vehicle, then fuel consumption is reduced and safety is improved, but this requires precise distance monitoring and coordination between vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The representative vehicle performs multiple functions: it leads the platoon, maintains the threshold distance from the junction, and serves as the reference point for all other vehicles in the batch. Other vehicles simply need to maintain their relative positions to the representative vehicle rather than independently tracking the junction, simplifying the monitoring requirements. The computer system uses the representative vehicle's position to control the entire batch's timing and speed.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for efficient real-time traffic management of controllable autonomic and non-autonomic vehicles, moving between sources and destinations, comprising scheduling and synchronizing the movement of autonomic and non-autonomic vehicles approaching junctions between source and destination; displaying to the driver of each non-autonomic vehicle or transmitting to each autonomic vehicle, the speed required for allowing the vehicle to cross each junction without stopping, while eliminating conflicts with other vehicles, for achieving non-stop junctions; scheduling and synchronizing the movement of a plurality of vehicles that join and leave the traffic, for allowing a non-stop movement from source to destination.