Vehicle Platoon Intersection Timing Control for Safe Spacing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle platoon systems face challenges in navigating intersections, particularly signalized intersections, stop signs, and highway ramps, leading to congestion and disruptions in the platoon formation due to inadequate timing and spacing control.
Innovation Solution
A system that utilizes location data, map matching, and intersection timing data to calculate travel times and generate platoon commands, ensuring vehicles can pass through intersections without interruption by adjusting speed and spacing, using a processor to compare intersection timing with travel time and issuing commands to maintain platoon cohesion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If vehicles in a platoon maintain close spacing to improve fuel efficiency and reduce congestion, then energy consumption decreases and productivity increases, but the risk of collision increases and safety deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the distance between vehicles in the platoon and adjusts spacing dynamically. Sensors detect relative positions and speeds, feeding this information back to the control system which then modifies throttle and brake commands to maintain safe yet efficient spacing, resolving the contradiction between close spacing for fuel efficiency and adequate spacing for safety
Solution Approach 2:
The platoon spacing is not fixed but dynamically adjusted based on real-time conditions including vehicle speed, road gradient, weather, and traffic conditions. The system transitions between different spacing regimes (e.g., tighter spacing on highways, larger spacing in adverse conditions) to optimize both fuel efficiency and safety simultaneously
2Productivity
If the platoon speed is increased to improve productivity and reduce travel time, then output increases and time loss decreases, but the stopping distance increases and safety deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides advance warning to platoon members of upcoming intersections, stop signs, or hazards. By notifying vehicles ahead of time, the system enables progressive deceleration rather than sudden braking, allowing higher cruising speeds while maintaining safe stopping distances through preparedness
Solution Approach 2:
The control system continuously monitors speed, distance to intersection, and traffic signal status, adjusting throttle and brake commands in real-time to maintain optimal speed that balances productivity with safe stopping capability
3Device complexity
If the platoon maintains a rigid formation to improve coordination and reduce communication overhead, then device complexity decreases and ease of operation increases, but the ability to adapt to different road conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The platoon formation transitions from rigid to flexible based on road conditions. On highways with uniform conditions, vehicles maintain consistent spacing and speed for simple coordination. When approaching intersections, ramps, or adverse conditions, the system dynamically adjusts spacing, speed, and formation configuration to adapt to varying requirements
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the platoon can have different spacing and speed characteristics based on local conditions. For example, vehicles approaching an intersection may reduce speed and increase spacing, while vehicles further back maintain higher speed and tighter spacing, allowing the platoon to adapt locally without requiring complete reconfiguration
4Reliability
If vehicles in the platoon are spaced far apart to improve safety and comfort, then reliability increases and ease of operation improves, but fuel efficiency decreases and productivity deteriorates due to increased air resistance and longer communication delays
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors and communication systems to continuously monitor platoon spacing and adjust throttle commands to maintain optimal distance. This active control enables tighter spacing than passive driving would allow, reducing drag and improving fuel efficiency while maintaining safety through real-time monitoring and adjustment
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle platoon control system performs techniques for controlling a platoon of vehicles through an intersection. The platoon of vehicles is controlled through receiving location data for at least a first vehicle of the platoon of vehicles, map matching the location data for the first vehicle to a road network, identifying an intersection in the road network in response to the matched location data, determining a time period for the intersection, calculating a distance to the intersection for a second vehicle of the platoon of vehicles, calculating a travel time based on the distance to the intersection for the second vehicle of the platoon of vehicles, performing a comparison of the time period for the intersection to the travel time for the second vehicle, and generating a platoon command in response to the comparison.