Vehicle Platooning System for Road Capacity and Energy Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing number of vehicles on roadways outpaces the construction of new roadways, leading to traffic congestion and infrastructure challenges, necessitating alternative measures to enhance the efficiency of existing roadways without expanding them.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for grouping vehicles into platoons using navigation and communication data to optimize routes, reduce following distances, and facilitate secure vehicle-to-vehicle communication, enabling efficient travel and payment processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If vehicles travel individually with standard spacing, then each vehicle maintains independent control and safety margins, but road capacity is limited and energy efficiency is reduced due to larger following distances
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple vehicles are merged into a platoon formation where they travel in close proximity with reduced following distances. The system combines vehicles into groups led by a lead vehicle, allowing following vehicles to maintain smaller safety margins while benefiting from aerodynamic drafting effects, thereby increasing road capacity without compromising safety
Solution Approach 2:
A communication system acts as an intermediary between vehicles in the platoon, enabling real-time exchange of position, speed, and intent data. This mediator facilitates coordinated movement and maintains safety protocols automatically, reducing the complexity burden on individual drivers while enabling tighter spacing
2Reliability
If vehicles maintain larger following distances for safety, then individual vehicle safety margins are improved, but energy efficiency decreases due to increased aerodynamic drag
Solution Approach 1:
Vehicles are merged into platoons where following vehicles operate in the aerodynamic wake of lead vehicles, significantly reducing aerodynamic drag and energy consumption. The close proximity merging enables drafting effects that lower fuel usage while communication systems maintain safety protocols through continuous data exchange
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where vehicles in the platoon constantly monitor and communicate their position, speed, and operational status. This real-time feedback enables automatic adjustment of following distances to maintain safety margins while maximizing energy efficiency benefits from reduced aerodynamic drag
3Productivity
If vehicles form tight platoons to increase road capacity, then roadway efficiency is improved, but the complexity of coordination and communication between vehicles increases
Solution Approach 1:
A centralized or distributed communication network serves as an intermediary that manages coordination between platoon members. This intermediary handles message routing, data validation, and conflict resolution, reducing the coordination burden on individual vehicles while enabling efficient platoon formation and maintenance for improved roadway throughput
Solution Approach 2:
The platooning system employs universal communication protocols and standardized data formats that enable multiple vehicle types to participate in platoons. This multi-functionality allows the same coordination framework to handle diverse vehicle configurations, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining roadway efficiency
4Ease of operation
If vehicles travel independently, then each driver has full control and decision-making authority, but traffic flow consistency is reduced leading to congestion
Solution Approach 1:
Vehicles in the platoon operate with a degree of autonomy where following vehicles automatically adjust their speed and position based on lead vehicle actions and communicated intent. This self-service capability maintains driver control and decision-making authority while enabling consistent traffic flow patterns that improve overall roadway efficiency without requiring constant manual intervention
Data Source
AI summary
A method, apparatus and computer program products are provided for grouping a plurality of vehicles together into a platoon and using navigation and other available data to optimize the efficiencies of operating the vehicles together as a platoon. Methods may include receiving a first trip request including a first vehicle identification, trip destination, and associated preferences; receiving a second trip request including a second vehicle identification, trip destination, and associated preferences; and generating a platooning plan including assignment of platoon leader to the first vehicle identification and a joining location where a vehicle of the first vehicle identification is to form a platoon with a vehicle of the second identification. Methods may include joining the first vehicle and the second vehicle in a secure vehicle-to-vehicle communication session.