Early Gapping and Platoon Merging Strategies for Autonomous Vehicles using Local Controllers

Nir Shvalb, Shlomo Geller, Idit Avrahami

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Autonomous vehicle merging schemes require a central control or a complex communication system between the vehicles. We suggest an alternative local traffic control method based on distance sensors and roadside units which provides the vehicles with the desired gap profile without the need for vehicle‐to‐vehicle communication. The gap profile aims to open gaps between the vehicles before an upcoming junction. To explore the profiles’ governing parameters, 140,000 simulation cases with varying conditions were run. Results show that, for a speed limit of 100 km/h and high inlet density (of 1–1.5 s between vehicles), the best strategy with respect to flow and merging percentage (of ~90%) is to use early gapping and platoon merging using linear profiles with long stabilization sections (>0.6 km). Moreover, the gapping process should start when the vehicle ahead attains a velocity of 75 km/h. In this way, fluent traffic can be sustained without perpetuating up-stream traffic jams.

Original languageEnglish
Article number6328
JournalApplied Sciences (Switzerland)
Volume12
Issue number13
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jul 2022

Keywords

  • autonomous vehicles
  • early gapping
  • lane merging
  • platoon merging
  • traffic control

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Early Gapping and Platoon Merging Strategies for Autonomous Vehicles using Local Controllers'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this