Platooning Controller for Cut-In Vehicle Response and Fuel Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
During platooning, commercial vehicles face challenges in responding to cut-in vehicles, leading to potential accidents and inefficiencies in fuel efficiency and safety, as they may not recognize or effectively manage lane-changing vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A platooning controller that allows users to control vehicle responses to cut-in situations based on their intentions and driving conditions, using processors to manage communication, inter-vehicle distances, and alert systems to maintain or release platooning, while synchronizing speeds and guiding cut-in vehicles to exit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If commercial vehicles maintain platooning with heavy weight and cargo, then fuel efficiency is improved through reduced air resistance, but the ability to quickly respond to cut-in vehicles deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of cut-in vehicles using sensors before they fully enter the platooning formation. The controller proactively adjusts inter-vehicle distances and speeds in advance, allowing heavy commercial vehicles to respond quickly to cut-in situations without sacrificing fuel efficiency during normal platooning operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The platooning control system dynamically adjusts operational parameters such as inter-vehicle distance and speed based on real-time detection of cut-in vehicles. When a cut-in vehicle is detected, the system transitions from tight formation (fuel-efficient) to increased spacing (safe response), enabling adaptive behavior that resolves the contradiction between fuel efficiency and response speed.
2Use of energy by moving object
If commercial vehicles maintain tight platooning formation, then fuel consumption is reduced, but safety against cut-in vehicles deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system detects cut-in vehicles in advance using sensors and predicts their trajectory. Before the cut-in vehicle reaches a dangerous position, the controller pre-adjusts the inter-vehicle distance and speed, ensuring safety is maintained without completely breaking the tight formation that provides fuel efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The platooning control system continuously monitors the surrounding environment using sensors and provides feedback to the controller. When a cut-in vehicle is detected, the system feedback-adjusts the formation parameters (distance, speed) to maintain safety while minimizing disruption to fuel-efficient operation. This closed-loop control resolves the safety-fuel consumption contradiction.
3Reliability
If vehicles passively release or maintain platooning upon detecting cut-in vehicle, then safety is simplified, but fuel efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of passive release or maintenance of platooning, the system dynamically adjusts formation parameters based on the detected cut-in vehicle's characteristics and trajectory. The controller selectively increases inter-vehicle distance for affected vehicles while maintaining tight formation for other platoon members, preserving fuel efficiency while managing safety actively rather than passively.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different control strategies to different vehicles within the platoon based on their specific situations. When a cut-in vehicle is detected, only the affected vehicle(s) adjust their inter-vehicle distance and speed, while other platoon members maintain their fuel-efficient formation. This localized response maintains overall fuel efficiency while ensuring safety where needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A platooning controller, a vehicle system including the same, and a method thereof perform control during platooning. The platooning controller includes a processor that, when an outside vehicle cuts in a platooning line, performs platooning control depending on an intention of a user to perform the platooning control and a driving situation with the cut-in vehicle that cuts in the platooning line. The platooning controller also includes a storage that stores the result of performing the platooning control performed by the processor and information about the driving situation.