Platoon Formation Change Using Adjacent Lane Reassignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing platooning technologies face challenges in efficiently changing the formation of platooning vehicles to minimize separation and optimize traffic flow, especially when encountering road conditions or traffic signals.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device for platooning vehicles that identifies the formation of vehicles, assesses the availability of adjacent lanes, and dynamically changes the formation by moving some vehicles to an empty lane, thereby reducing separation and enhancing traffic efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the platoon maintains a fixed formation in the first lane, then the control of platooning is simplified, but the separation of the platoon increases when encountering road conditions or traffic signals
Solution Approach 1:
The platoon formation is changed from a fixed static structure to a dynamic reconfigurable structure. The electronic device in the leading vehicle dynamically adjusts the formation by receiving lane change requests from following vehicles and redistributing vehicles across multiple lanes based on real-time traffic conditions, thereby reducing platoon separation while maintaining controllable complexity through automated coordination.
2Length of moving object
If the platoon changes formation by moving vehicles to adjacent lanes, then the separation of the platoon is reduced, but the coordination complexity among vehicles increases
Solution Approach 1:
The platoon is segmented into multiple groups based on lane assignments. The electronic device divides the platoon into different segments operating in different lanes, with each following vehicle independently capable of making lane change decisions based on local conditions while the leading vehicle coordinates the overall formation, reducing the coordination burden compared to centralized control of every vehicle.
Solution Approach 2:
Following vehicles are empowered to autonomously determine and execute lane change decisions based on their local sensor data and traffic conditions. Each following vehicle's electronic device independently assesses whether to move to an adjacent lane and communicates this decision to the leading vehicle, eliminating the need for continuous centralized coordination and reducing overall system complexity.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the platoon maintains a compact formation, then fuel efficiency is improved, but the adaptability to different road conditions and traffic signals deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The platoon formation is extended from a single-lane compact arrangement to a multi-lane distributed arrangement. By utilizing the lateral dimension (adjacent lanes) in addition to the longitudinal dimension (spacing along the lane), the platoon maintains reduced inter-vehicle gaps for fuel efficiency while adapting to different road conditions and traffic signals through spatial redistribution across multiple lanes.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device for platooning of vehicles may identify first information related to a first formation, obtain second information related to whether at least a portion of a second lane, which is distinct from the first lane, is unoccupied, determine a second formation based on the second information, distinguish the vehicles into a first group of vehicles including a leading vehicle and a second group of vehicles including only following vehicles, based on the second formation, and transmit a signal to the following vehicles included in the second group of vehicles to move the second group of vehicles to the second lane.