Method and apparatus for congestion reduction through cooperative adaptive cruise control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10699566-B2
Application number	US-201615067877-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 11, 2016
Priority date	Mar 11, 2016
Publication date	Jun 30, 2020
Grant date	Jun 30, 2020

Abstract

A system includes a processor configured to determine traffic density over a road segment. The processor is also configured to model traffic parameters to maximize traffic flow over the road segment, based on the traffic density and travel characteristic data received from a plurality of vehicles exiting the road segment. The processor is further configured to determine a speed to density curve, using the model, that would maximize traffic flow and send the speed to density curve to a vehicle entering the road segment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a processor configured to:
wirelessly receive a speed to density curve, representing vehicle speeds at given densities to maximize traffic flow;
convert density values to headway values; and
control a vehicle speed to match a speed value, based on the speed to density curve, for a current headway available to a vehicle as measured by a vehicle sensor.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the speed to density curve includes a maximum optimal speed, representing a maximum speed for promoting maximum traffic flow.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the maximum optimal speed is lower than a speed limit.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to limit the vehicle speed to the maximum optimal speed, regardless of current headway available.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Macneille Perry Robinson
• Decia Nunzio
• Wisniewski Joseph
• Chowanic Andrea Bowes

Classifications

• G08G1/02

  using treadles built into the road (pads or other sensitive devices responsive to passage of vehicles E01F11/00) · CPC title

• G08G1/052

  with provision for determining speed or overspeed {(speed measuring in general G01P)} · CPC title

• G08G1/096725

  where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control · CPC title

• G08G1/096783

  where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element · CPC title

• G08G1/0133

  for classifying traffic situation · CPC title