Autonomous Vehicle Train Rendezvous for Dynamic Join Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles into conventional traffic flows leads to inefficiencies, safety issues, and inconveniences due to operator errors, inattention, and the need for efficient coordination of vehicle movements.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method for autonomous vehicles to dynamically join or rendezvous with an Autonomous Vehicle Train (AVT) by establishing communication, receiving operational data, determining a rendezvous point, and maneuvering to join the AVT, allowing for coordinated speed and spacing adjustments among vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If autonomous vehicles operate independently in conventional traffic flow, then each vehicle can maintain its own route and schedule, but traffic efficiency decreases and safety issues arise due to operator errors and lack of coordination
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple autonomous vehicles are merged into a coordinated train formation where vehicles operate as a unified group rather than independent entities. The lead vehicle's route and schedule are shared with following vehicles, creating a synchronized system that improves overall traffic efficiency while maintaining safety through coordinated maneuvers and standardized communication protocols.
2Reliability
If autonomous vehicles form coordinated trains, then traffic flow efficiency and safety improve through coordinated movement, but system complexity increases due to communication and coordination requirements
Solution Approach 1:
A communication system acts as an intermediary between vehicles in the train, enabling coordinated operation without requiring complex direct peer-to-peer interactions between all vehicles. The lead vehicle communicates route and schedule information to following vehicles through this intermediary communication channel, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining coordination and safety.
3Adaptability or versatility
If autonomous vehicles dynamically join or leave the train en-route, then flexibility and adaptability improve, but coordination difficulty and communication requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous vehicle train is designed as a dynamic system where vehicles can join or leave the formation en-route. The lead vehicle's route and schedule are continuously updated and communicated to following vehicles, allowing the train composition to change while maintaining coordinated operation. This dynamic capability provides flexibility for vehicles to enter or exit the train without requiring complete reconfiguration of the entire system.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method of directing an autonomous vehicle to join an autonomous vehicle train, the computer-implemented method including: receiving, via at least one of one or more processors or associated transceivers of the autonomous vehicle train, a request from a requesting autonomous vehicle that is not part of the autonomous vehicle train to join the autonomous vehicle train along a route; determining, using autonomous vehicle data, a rendezvous point along the route; transmitting, a communication to the requesting autonomous vehicle authorizing the requesting autonomous vehicle to join the autonomous vehicle train at the rendezvous point along the route; and directing the requesting autonomous vehicle to join the autonomous vehicle train at the rendezvous point along the route. Other embodiments are described.