Multi-Vehicle Cruise Control Using Road Congestion Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Individual vehicle control based on disparate operational data leads to sub-optimal operation and sub-optimal collective operation in vehicle transportation networks.
Innovation Solution
A control loop system that utilizes sensor data from multiple monitored vehicles to determine cruise control settings for controlled vehicles, adjusting their operation to improve network efficiency through collective action.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If individual vehicle control is used based on disparate operational data, then each vehicle can operate independently, but the collective operation and network efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines sensor data from multiple monitored vehicles to create a collective traffic estimation model. This merging of data sources allows the system to determine congestion conditions for the entire road network rather than individual vehicles, enabling coordinated cruise control settings that improve overall network efficiency while maintaining individual vehicle operation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a central control entity that acts as an intermediary between monitored vehicles and controlled vehicles. This intermediary collects sensor data from monitored vehicles, processes it through a traffic estimation model, and generates coordinated cruise control settings for controlled vehicles, thereby resolving the contradiction between independent operation and network efficiency
2Productivity
If sensor data from multiple vehicles is collected and processed, then network efficiency and fuel economy improve, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments vehicles into two distinct groups: monitored vehicles that provide sensor data and controlled vehicles that receive cruise control settings. This segmentation simplifies the overall system architecture by clearly defining data flow directions and control relationships, reducing the complexity that would arise from trying to coordinate all vehicles simultaneously
3Loss of time
If cruise control settings are adjusted based on traffic estimation, then fuel economy and travel time improve, but measurement and detection difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary traffic estimation by collecting and processing sensor data from monitored vehicles before determining cruise control settings for controlled vehicles. This preliminary action allows the system to predict congestion conditions in advance and adjust cruise control settings proactively, reducing travel time while using established data processing techniques to manage the complexity of traffic measurement
Data Source
AI summary
Collective action by multiple vehicles traversing a vehicle transportation network is used to improve operation of vehicles and utilization of the vehicle transportation network. Sensor data for multiple monitored vehicles traveling in a common direction along a road in a vehicle transportation network is received and used as input to a traffic estimation model to determine an estimated congestion for the road in the common direction. A cruise control setting for each of several controlled vehicles, at least some of the controlled vehicles traveling behind the monitored vehicles in the common direction, is determined from the estimated congestion. The cruise control setting is transmitted to the controlled vehicles to modify operation of the controlled vehicles using respective cruise control systems of the controlled vehicles.