Platooning Control Apparatus for Restricted Area Speed Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
In platooning, vehicles often fail to maintain the initial distance between them when passing through restricted areas like those with speed limits or speed bumps, leading to reduced fuel efficiency due to the leading vehicle accelerating without considering the following vehicles.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that utilize V2X and V2V communications to share information about restricted areas, controlling inter-vehicle distance and speed to prevent acceleration when a leading vehicle enters a restricted area, ensuring all vehicles in the platoon line pass through safely and maintain the platoon formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the leading vehicle accelerates to preset speed without considering following vehicles when passing through restricted area, then the leading vehicle can maintain its speed, but the inter-vehicle distance increases and platooning formation is broken
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting restricted areas in advance using map information and notifying following vehicles before the leading vehicle enters. This allows following vehicles to prepare for speed reduction or distance maintenance, preventing platoon formation breakdown while the leading vehicle needs to maintain speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the positions and speeds of all vehicles in the platoon, and adjusting the leading vehicle's acceleration commands based on real-time inter-vehicle distance conditions. When distance exceeds thresholds, the system feedback-controls the leading vehicle to maintain distance rather than accelerate to preset speed.
2Productivity
If the leading vehicle maintains acceleration in restricted area, then the leading vehicle can achieve preset speed quickly, but fuel efficiency of the platoon decreases due to platoon formation breakdown
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the control objectives of the leading vehicle (speed achievement) and following vehicles (distance maintenance) by implementing coordinated control. When following vehicles are detected in restricted areas, the leading vehicle's acceleration is restricted, merging both vehicles' speed profiles to maintain platoon formation and fuel efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies dynamic control by adjusting the leading vehicle's acceleration behavior based on real-time conditions. The acceleration restriction is not static but dynamically applied only when following vehicles are present in restricted areas, allowing normal speed achievement when platoon formation is not at risk.
3Speed
If the leading vehicle accelerates without coordination, then the leading vehicle can maintain its intended speed profile, but the stability of platoon formation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback control by continuously monitoring inter-vehicle distance and using this information to adjust the leading vehicle's acceleration commands. When distance exceeds safe thresholds, the system feedback-controls the leading vehicle to maintain distance, ensuring platoon formation stability while preserving speed control when conditions allow.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary control layer that mediates between the leading vehicle's speed objectives and the platoon formation stability requirements. This intermediary controller coordinates acceleration requests based on following vehicle positions, acting as a mediator that balances speed control and formation stability.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for controlling platooning and a method thereof are provided. The apparatus includes a communication part to transmit or receive information on the platooning and information on a restricted area from or to vehicles in a platooning line and a vehicle external server. The apparatus further includes a processor to restrict an inter-vehicle distance from being increased or an acceleration when a leading vehicle in the platooning line enters the restricted area based on the information on the restricted area.