Iterative Traffic Flow Profile Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cooperative adaptive cruise control systems are limited in flexibility and accuracy, particularly in handling a variety of traffic situations, and often provide suboptimal solutions for traffic-related problems such as energy and traffic efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that iteratively exchange and adapt moving profiles of vehicles and operational profiles of traffic regulation devices to dynamically optimize traffic flow, incorporating various traffic-related information for enhanced accuracy and flexibility, including signal phase information, driving conditions, and external physical considerations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional cooperative adaptive cruise control systems are used, then basic speed control is achieved, but flexibility and accuracy in handling various traffic situations are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility in handling traffic situationsVSAvoidaccuracy of traffic flow optimization
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic profile adaptation where moving profiles and operational profiles are continuously exchanged and adjusted between vehicles and traffic regulation devices. This dynamic exchange allows the system to adapt to varying traffic conditions in real-time, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and accuracy by making the system both adaptable to different situations and precise in its responses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs iterative feedback mechanisms where vehicles and traffic regulation devices continuously exchange information about their operational states and adjust their profiles based on received data. This feedback loop enables the system to improve its accuracy while maintaining flexibility, as each iteration refines the optimization based on actual traffic conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of energy

If conventional traffic control methods are used, then basic traffic flow management is maintained, but energy consumption and waiting times are suboptimal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidwaiting times
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having vehicles and traffic regulation devices proactively exchange and adapt their profiles before suboptimal conditions develop. By anticipating traffic flow issues and adjusting speed profiles and operational parameters in advance, the system reduces both energy consumption and waiting times, avoiding the need for reactive corrections that would be less efficient.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes parameter changes by dynamically adjusting speed profiles, acceleration rates, and traffic light operational parameters based on real-time traffic conditions. This continuous optimization of operational parameters enables the system to minimize energy consumption while reducing waiting times, as parameters are tuned to achieve optimal traffic flow rather than maintaining fixed suboptimal settings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If iterative profile exchange and adaptation is implemented, then traffic flow optimization is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraffic throughputVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the complex traffic flow optimization problem into manageable profile components (moving profiles for vehicles and operational profiles for regulation devices). This segmentation allows the system to handle complexity in a structured way, where each profile can be independently adjusted and exchanged, thereby improving traffic throughput without overwhelming system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements universality by creating a multi-functional profile exchange mechanism that serves multiple purposes: optimizing traffic flow, reducing energy consumption, minimizing waiting times, and coordinating between vehicles and infrastructure. This universal approach handles diverse traffic situations through a single integrated system, improving productivity while containing complexity through functional consolidation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2831861B1Method and system for adapting vehicular traffic flow
Publication Date: 2022.12.07 NEC CORP
  • EP2831861B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2831861B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2831861B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for adapting vehicular traffic flow with a plurality of vehicles and at least one traffic flow regulation device outside the vehicles, preferably in form of a traffic light signal controller for traffic lights, is characterized in that a) Determining current moving states of the vehicles, wherein a current moving state includes driving condition information of a vehicle, b) Determining a current device state of at least one of traffic flow regulation devices wherein a device state includes moving profile impact information for the vehicles, c) Calculating moving profiles of the vehicles and/or calculating an operational profile of at least one of the traffic flow regulation devices based on the corresponding current states d) Exchanging profile information of the calculated moving profiles and/or the calculated operational profile, e) Adapting the moving profiles and/or the operational profile according to the exchanged profile information of step d) wherein at least steps d) and e) are performed iteratively until a predetermined convergence criterion is fulfilled.