Vehicle Platoon Intersection Gap Control for Higher Throughput
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current transportation systems have low capacity and struggle to maintain efficient throughput of vehicle platoons through intersections in road networks, leading to delays and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A method and control system that synchronize the speed and position of vehicle platoons by increasing the distance and time gap between them at intersections, allowing for optimized passage through intersections by adjusting speeds before, during, and after the intersection, thereby minimizing deceleration and acceleration, and ensuring efficient and safe passage for other platoons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vehicle platoons maintain constant distance and speed through intersections, then safety is improved, but throughput and flow efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the distance and speed of vehicle platoons variable rather than constant. The control system dynamically adjusts the distance between platoons based on their position relative to intersections, maintaining larger gaps when approaching or crossing intersections to enable safe passage, and optimizing distance elsewhere to maintain flow efficiency. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between safety and throughput.
2Reliability
If vehicle platoons decelerate and accelerate to pass intersections, then safe passage is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system performs preliminary action by pre-planning and pre-positioning vehicle platoons before they reach intersections. By calculating optimal positions and speeds in advance, the system enables platoons to pass intersections with minimal deceleration and acceleration, thereby reducing energy consumption while ensuring safe passage. The system prepares the platoon configuration beforehand rather than making reactive adjustments.
3Productivity
If vehicle platoons maintain high speed continuously, then throughput is improved, but safety at intersections deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing different speed and distance control strategies in different spatial zones. In intersection zones, the system enforces larger distances and adjusted speeds to ensure safety. In non-intersection zones, the system maintains optimized distances and higher speeds to maximize throughput. This localized differentiation of control parameters resolves the contradiction between safety and productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating a transportation system having a first set and a second set of vehicle platoons vehicle platoons, each of the vehicle platoons has a lead vehicle and a plurality of vehicles following the lead vehicle. The method includes controlling the vehicle platoons with a control system, driving the first set of vehicle platoons along a first road and the second set of vehicle platoons along a second road that intersects the first road, increasing the distance, at the intersection, between a first vehicle platoon and a following second vehicle platoon of the first set of vehicle platoons driving along the first road, and controlling a vehicle platoon of the second set of vehicle platoons driving along the second road to pass the intersection in the gap between the last vehicle of the first vehicle platoon and the lead vehicle of the second vehicle platoon.