Vehicle Platooning Control for Limited Visibility Navigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current vehicle platooning systems, as seen in the SARTRE project, are limited in their ability to efficiently navigate through roads with limited visibility and require long sections to safely overtake foreign objects, especially on roads with one lane in each direction, restricting their use on various public road networks.

Innovation Solution

A method and control system that allows a group of road vehicles to move as one body with varying shapes, using wireless communication and sensor cooperation to enable safe overtaking and navigation through complex traffic situations, even on roads with limited visibility, by designating a lead vehicle that can assume any position within the group and utilizing sensors from multiple vehicles to assess traffic conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If vehicles travel in a platoon with fixed formation, then fuel consumption is reduced through decreased air resistance, but the system cannot efficiently navigate roads with limited visibility or perform safe overtaking maneuvers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel consumptionVSAvoidability to navigate limited visibility roads and perform overtaking

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The platoon is segmented into a lead vehicle and multiple following vehicles, each equipped with independent sensors and control units. This segmentation allows the lead vehicle to maintain the energy-efficient platoon formation while following vehicles contribute sensor data for navigation decisions, enabling the system to navigate limited visibility roads and perform overtaking maneuvers without breaking the formation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each vehicle in the platoon is equipped with multi-functional capabilities: they serve as both followers for energy efficiency and as sensor nodes for environmental perception. The lead vehicle's control unit universally processes sensor data from all vehicles to make navigation decisions, enabling the system to adapt to different road conditions while maintaining the platoon formation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the lead vehicle is positioned at the front of the platoon, then overtaking foreign objects becomes possible, but the system requires long road sections and cannot operate on roads with one lane in each direction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to overtake foreign objectsVSAvoidroad section length required for overtaking

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The lead vehicle position is predetermined and fixed before the platoon encounters any overtaking situations. This preliminary positioning allows the lead vehicle to serve as the primary sensor platform for detecting foreign objects and initiating overtaking maneuvers, enabling the system to perform safe overtaking on roads with limited space by utilizing the lead vehicle's advanced position and sensor capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of energy

If vehicles maintain fixed relative positions in a platoon, then aerodynamic efficiency is improved, but the system lacks flexibility to adapt to complex traffic situations and varying road conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair resistanceVSAvoidflexibility to adapt to complex traffic situations

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

While maintaining the overall platoon formation for aerodynamic efficiency, the system dynamically adjusts vehicle positions and spacing based on real-time sensor data and traffic conditions. The control units process information from all vehicles and dynamically modify the platoon configuration, allowing the system to adapt to complex traffic situations while minimizing energy loss through optimized aerodynamic positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2881926B1Method and control system for controlling movement of a group of road vehicles

Publication Date: 2021.08.04 VOLVO CAR CORP

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AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling movement of a group (100) of road vehicles (101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106). The group (100) comprises a lead vehicle and one or more additional vehicles. The lead vehicle comprises a first control unit (204) and a first communication means (206). The one or more additional vehicles each comprises a second control unit (214, ...2n4), which is adapted to in an at least partly automated mode have the movement of the one or more additional vehicle controlled by the first control unit (204) of the lead vehicle. The one or more additional vehicles each comprises a second communication means (216, ..., 2n6) for communication with the first communication means (206) of the lead vehicle. The vehicles of the group (100) are moveable relative to each other within the group (100) as regards longitudinal position, lateral position, speed and/or acceleration. The group (100) of road vehicles are controllable by the first control unit (204) of the lead vehicle so as to move as one body, a shape of the body being variable. The vehicles of the group thereby cooperate with each other. The disclosure further relates to a method for forming a group and to a control system (200) for controlling movement of a group (100) of road vehicles.