Platoon Lane Change Control via Reverse-Sequence Maneuvering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle control systems for platooning lack effective methods to manage lane changes without interruption from other vehicles, especially when encountering obstacles, as they struggle with data processing and grasping the higher context of traffic scenes, leading to potential disruptions and increased fuel consumption.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control system that determines lane change parameters using sensors and communicates control signals to individual vehicles to change lanes in a controlled manner, with the last vehicle entering the new lane first and subsequent vehicles following in a coordinated sequence, ensuring minimal disruption and maintaining platoon cohesion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional vehicle control systems are used for platooning, then individual vehicle control is maintained, but the platoon cannot effectively manage lane changes without interruption from other vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges individual vehicle control systems with a central platoon control system. The central controller coordinates lane change maneuvers across all platoon vehicles, ensuring they change lanes in a synchronized sequence (last vehicle first, then moving forward) to prevent interruptions from other vehicles while maintaining individual vehicle control capabilities.
2Reliability
If the platoon changes lanes in a coordinated sequence, then lane change safety is improved, but the time required for the maneuver increases
Solution Approach 1:
The central controller initiates lane changes in reverse sequence (last vehicle first, then moving forward to the first vehicle). This preliminary action by the rear vehicles creates space and clears the path ahead, allowing subsequent vehicles to change lanes more quickly and safely without waiting for traffic to clear, thereby reducing overall maneuver time while maintaining safety.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the platoon maintains constant speed during lane changes, then fuel consumption is reduced, but the ability to respond to traffic conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adjusts individual vehicle speeds within the platoon during lane change maneuvers. While maintaining overall platoon speed consistency to reduce fuel consumption, the system allows temporary speed variations for specific vehicles based on their position in the lane change sequence and real-time traffic conditions, enabling both energy efficiency and adaptive response.
4Reliability
If sensors and central control are used to determine lane change parameters, then lane change coordination is improved, but the data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the lane change control function into centralized parameter determination (by the main controller based on sensor data) and decentralized execution (by individual vehicle controls). This segmentation allows the complex data processing and coordination logic to be centralized, while individual vehicles execute simpler, pre-determined control signals, reducing the data processing burden on each vehicle's system.
Data Source
AI summary
A platoon control system includes a platoon control in communication with a plurality of individual platoon vehicle controls associated with respective platoon vehicles of a platoon of vehicles traveling along a road. Responsive to a lane change instruction wirelessly communicated by the platoon control, the individual platoon vehicle control of a last platoon vehicle controls the last platoon vehicle to maneuver the last platoon vehicle from an initial traffic lane to another traffic lane. After maneuvering the last platoon vehicle to enter the other traffic lane, the individual platoon vehicle control of the last platoon vehicle controls the last platoon vehicle to allow the individual platoon vehicle controls of the other platoon vehicles to maneuver the other platoon vehicles to enter the other traffic lane ahead of the last platoon vehicle.