Travel Control Device Optimizing Traffic Flow and Energy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing traffic control systems fail to simultaneously optimize traffic flow and minimize energy consumption, as they either neglect future traffic congestion or prioritize energy efficiency over traffic flow, leading to potential increases in energy consumption and traffic congestion.
Innovation Solution
A travel control device that integrates infrastructure servers and in-vehicle terminals to calculate and display optimal routes considering both traffic congestion and energy efficiency, using horizon length and route passing vehicle-speed patterns to minimize energy consumption and arrival times while avoiding future traffic congestion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a new optimal route is presented when unpredicted change in traffic flow is detected, then traffic congestion in the future can be avoided, but the possibility that traffic congestion will occur again is not taken into consideration and the vehicle may encounter traffic congestion again
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by calculating and presenting multiple alternative routes in advance, not just a single optimal route. This allows the vehicle to have pre-prepared options when traffic conditions change, enabling proactive response to future congestion rather than reactive rerouting.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts route recommendations based on real-time traffic flow changes and vehicle position. As the vehicle travels along the recommended route, the system continuously monitors traffic conditions and updates recommendations, transitioning from static route planning to dynamic adaptive routing that responds to changing conditions.
2Reliability
If a new optimal route is selected to avoid traffic congestion, then traffic flow optimization is improved, but the traveling distance increases or traveling speed fluctuates, thereby ultimately increasing the energy consumption of the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the evaluation parameters for route selection by incorporating energy consumption calculations based on altitude information, not just travel time or distance. This allows the system to evaluate routes based on multiple parameters including energy efficiency, traffic conditions, and terrain, selecting routes that optimize the overall evaluation rather than single criteria.
Solution Approach 2:
The system calculates and stores multiple alternative routes in advance with their respective energy consumption characteristics. By having pre-calculated alternatives with known energy costs, the system can select from predetermined options that balance traffic avoidance with energy efficiency, rather than making suboptimal reactive decisions.
3Use of energy by moving object
If a route is selected to minimize energy consumption using altitude information, then energy consumption is reduced, but traffic flow is not taken into consideration, therefore when there is an occurrence of traffic congestion in the selected route, the energy consumption of the vehicle may be deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple evaluation criteria including energy consumption (based on altitude), traffic flow conditions, and travel time into a comprehensive route evaluation model. Rather than optimizing for energy alone, the system combines these factors to select routes that achieve acceptable performance across all parameters, balancing energy efficiency with traffic avoidance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the routing decision parameters by incorporating real-time traffic flow data alongside altitude-based energy calculations. This multi-parameter evaluation allows the system to adjust route selection dynamically, choosing routes that maintain energy efficiency while avoiding traffic congestion through balanced consideration of multiple factors.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a travel control device in which optimization of the traffic flow and minimization of energy consumption of vehicles are compatible with each other. The travel control device includes a target vehicle-speed calculation unit that includes a target vehicle-speed pattern adjustment processing unit generating a target vehicle-speed pattern based on a route passing speed pattern which is a passing vehicle-speed pattern within a certain distance generated in consideration of traffic congestion information, and an evaluation value calculation unit calculating an evaluation value based on a horizon length and the target vehicle-speed pattern, the horizon length representing the time taken until a vehicle arrives at an ultimate point generated in consideration of information on prospective traffic congestion which can occur in the future; and a target control volume computation unit that calculates control volume of controlling the vehicle based on the evaluation value.