SE1150075A1 - Method and management unit in connection with vehicle trains - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for organizing and administering a vehicle train using an administration unit, comprising: A) receiving in the administration unit vehicle train information related to at least two vehicles where the vehicle train information includes, for each vehicle: start point and final destination of a journey; time of travel, such as departure time and / or arrival time; vehicle-specific information, such as engine power, vehicle mass, front area, fuel consumption; B) match the times of the vehicles against each other and determine a time for the vehicle train based on these; C) match the starting points and final destinations of the vehicles and determine a travel route for the vehicle train based on these; D) calculate for each vehicle an individual value parameter that represents the consequences of participating in the vehicle train, based on at least the vehicle-specific information, and the determined itinerary, where the value parameter represents one or more of fuel saving, time gain / time loss. (Figure 2)

Description

15 20 25 30 2 is used for active transport of goods, caused by queues, transport between driving assignments and unplanned workshop visits.

Vehicle trains have long been discussed as an opportunity to streamline the transport of goods. By vehicle train is meant here a number of vehicles that are driven at short distances from each other and driven as one unit. It is a well-known fact that fuel consumption drastically decreases with the distance to the vehicle in front due to that the air resistance decreases. Studies show that the fuel consumption of the leading vehicle can be reduced by 2 to 10% and for the subsequent vehicle 15 to 20% compared to a single vehicle. This is provided that the distance between the trucks is 8 - 16 meters and that they travel at 80 km / h. The reduced fuel consumption results in a corresponding reduction in C02 emissions. Drivers are already taking advantage of this well-known fact today, with reduced road safety as a result. A basic question about vehicle trains is how the time gap between vehicles can be reduced from the recommended 3 seconds down to between 0.5 and 1 second without affecting road safety. The recommended time slot is today based on 0 Driver response time 0 Delays in the vehicle's braking system 0 Vehicle stopping distance With distance sensors and cameras, the driver's response time can be eliminated, a type of technology already used today by systems such as ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) and LKA (Lane Keeping Assistance) . One limitation, however, is that distance sensors and cameras require a clear view of the target, which makes it difficult to detect events more than a couple of vehicles ahead in the queue. A further limitation is that they cannot react proactively, ie. react to events that have not had a significant impact on the traffic rhythm. Communication between cars, however, provides an opportunity to solve these problems. Where vehicles in front of the vehicle train can 0 Send information about the condition of the own car, ie. weight, speed, engine power, position. 10 15 20 25 30 3 0 Send information about measures that affect surrounding traffic, eg if you brake. 0 Act as a probe for the vehicle behind by reporting observed traffic events backwards in the vehicle train.

This enables the vehicle train to act as a unit, which causes damping of oscillations in the train caused by speed changes. Consequently, shorter distances and better global traffic are possible.

Wireless communication between vehicles and vehicles to infrastructure is a technology that is beginning to be realized through the work on standardization work. In international projects, the technology has been used to create driver warning functions as well as route planning and route optimization. However, the technology has not been used as an active source of information for vehicle regulation. Significant research is therefore required on the design of a control strategy for the utilization of technology by functions.

US-2010/0256852 relates to a method for checking a number of vehicles that are part of a vehicle train, where a leader vehicle communicates with the other vehicles in the vehicle train by means of V2V communication. The communication refers, among other things, to the position of the pre-vehicles included in the vehicle train, and the distances between the vehicles.

As can be seen from the above review of background technology, much of the work is related to vehicle trains linked to technical solutions for creating optimally controlled vehicle trains. However, different types of vehicle trains could be generated using available technology and with a certain amount of manual driving.

An important aspect which is not touched upon and to which the inventors in the present application have drawn attention is linked to how the vehicle trains are to be generated and how it is to be administered.

The object of the present invention is related to generating and administering vehicle trains. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above objects are achieved by the invention defined by the independent claims.

Preferred embodiments are defined by the dependent claims.

According to the present invention, a method is implemented which implements a global service, preferably web-based, which by utilizing, among other things, the current or future position of the vehicles on the road, time, engine specification, vehicle mass, front area, etc., enables the creation of a program that calculates and reports various opportunities and benefits of creating or joining a vehicle train. The method can be applied in at least two fundamentally different ways, which are described below together with illustrative embodiments: According to a first embodiment, a vehicle train is created and administered in advance, ie. it does not happen in real time. The customer, for example a haulier, has the opportunity to connect online and log in to the service. There he chooses the start and end destination, as well as the time when he wishes to start or end the transport assignment. The service then shows which other heavy vehicles are intended to travel the same distance. At the same time, the service calculates how much profit the haulier can achieve in fuel consumption and any loss or gain in travel time. For example, the haulier sees four heavy vehicles traveling from Stockholm to Rome. The haulier, on the other hand, has been commissioned to send a transport from Gothenburg to Munich. The haulier then receives information about what time the vehicle train is expected to be in Gothenburg and finally in Munich and can then adapt accordingly if the profits are considered to be sufficiently favorable if they join the vehicle train.

If the haulier owner chooses to join this train, the other vehicles within the vehicle train from Stockholm will receive information that a new vehicle will join their train in Gothenburg. The haulier will be able to monitor the vehicle train from Stockholm and thereby be able to connect at the appropriate time. According to a second embodiment, a vehicle train is created and administered in real time.

Each vehicle sends its own position obtained, for example via GPS, thereby obtaining positions for other vehicle trains through the service, which can be displayed in the vehicle's navigator. Information including the number of vehicles in the vehicle train, their destination and potential benefits of deviating from the current route and joining the vehicle train calculated with a suitable algorithm will also be reported. In order to receive these services, of course, the own vehicle must send appropriate information to the service. The individual vehicles will receive different gains depending on the position they obtain in the vehicle train, as they are exposed to different air resistances. Therefore, the service also offers a reward system that is designed through appropriate compensation. This can include a points system or direct payment.

The invention is applicable to both autonomously and manually controlled vehicle trains.

An autonomous vehicle train refers to a vehicle train where, among other things, the vehicle's sensors are used to automatically keep the distance to a vehicle in front.

As a result, you can have a shorter distance between the vehicles than in a manually controlled vehicle train where the driver actively drives himself.

Through this service, which is implemented according to the invention, vehicle trains can be easily realized. It also creates a global change by increasing transport efficiency, reducing fuel consumption, and reducing exhaust emissions.

Through the possibility of placing a connecting vehicle in a suitable position in the vehicle train and suitable vehicle characteristics are sent to the service, optimal driving strategies can be obtained that are favorable to the individual vehicle. This also leads to opportunities for cooperation between different hauliers. For example, if a haulier has a half-full truck, they can offer other hauliers to use the rest of the cargo space. The transport flow will also be significantly improved, by monitoring which roads are heavily congested. This can lead to both physical and virtual green corridors that create extra favorable conditions for the customer.

The Swedish Road Administration will thus not have to expand new road networks and repair costs will be reduced. The service offers the opportunity for a global transport exchange. 10 15 20 25 30 The service can, for example, be realized as a web portal which is administered, for example, by a forwarding company where one can then control transport orders in an optimal way, alternatively this can be an independent service that individual hauliers join.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows a schematic block diagram illustrating the present invention.

Figure 2 is a flow chart illustrating the present invention.

Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating examples of system architectures relevant to the description of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First comes a general review of how a vehicle train works, including how communication between vehicles within the vehicle train takes place, and also how communication within an overall structure can take place.

To enable safe and efficient driving of the vehicle train, each truck must regulate its relative position by taking into account what surrounding other cars in the train do. There are three principal system architectures of growing complexity: in the first architecture, the trucks receive information about other vehicles only through their own sensors (radar, laser, etc.), in the second architecture the trucks also receive information by being able to communicate with each other (vehicle -to-vehic / e communication, V2V) and in the third architecture, trucks also receive information by being able to communicate with a fixed infrastructure (vehicle-to-Infrastructure communication, V2l). 10 15 20 25 30 7 Figure 3 illustrates these principal system architectures I, ll and lll. Three trucks T1, T2 and T3, all equipped with their own sensors that detect e.g. the distance to a vehicle in front. The vehicles are further provided with communication equipment G1, G2 and G3 for carrying out V2V communication 20. In addition, a superior structure 22 for handling V2 | communication 24 is included.

The weight and engine power of a heavy vehicle are of significant importance for the vehicle's reversing ability and its free acceleration on downhill slopes. These properties for each individual vehicle in the train will affect the total energy consumption for the total train. For example, if a heavy vehicle drives behind a lighter vehicle on a downhill slope, the heavy vehicle will catch up with the vehicle in front and be forced to brake. With a correctly selected time slot, or alternatively the correct placement of the vehicles in the train before the start of the downhill, braking could be avoided and thereby reduce fuel consumption.

Communication between the vehicles in the train enables the exchange of information of individual vehicles' weight, power, destination, etc. This information in combination with information about the topology and curvature of the road in front (through e.g.

GPS and maps with topological info) enable efficient administration of the individual vehicles in the train in relation to each other.

By administering the vehicles in the vehicle train is meant 0 Distance between two vehicles 0 Current relative speed between two vehicles 0 The mutual position of the vehicles in the train 0 In- and out-sinking of vehicles in the train. 0 Optimal speed for the total vehicle train Another important issue connected to a vehicle train is how this should interact with other traffic and surrounding infrastructure. 10 15 20 25 30 8 Communication between the vehicle train and other traffic and the infrastructure provides conditions for further streamlining the train's operation. This makes it possible to 0 Optimize the speed against dynamic changes in the traffic rhythm, such as traffic lights, speed limits, and to create gaps in the train to allow other traffic to cross the train path, 0 Optimize the vehicle train route with respect to the global traffic situation, 0 Control the train as well as infrastructure to facilitate the operation of the vehicle.

Overall, vehicle trains can increase transport efficiency by: 0 Reducing fuel consumption due to reduced air resistance 0 Increasing the degree of packing on the road network by driving vehicles more closely 0 Reducing suspension effects in traffic, leading to a better traffic flow In the system architecture shown in Figure 3 which illustrates a distributed regulation vehicle trains where the numbers I, ll and lll represent different levels of architecture.

Level l - Distance sensor The forthcoming legal requirement for an autonomous emergency braking system has led to a major technological development in distance sensors and advanced image processing. This has been further developed through sensor fusion, which demonstrates opportunities for future object identification in real-time systems. At the same time, research in GPS and map data management has reached a level of maturity that strengthens the precision of measurement data and contributes additional significant information. Safer measurement data now creates opportunities for robust regulation and thereby an optimal control strategy while maintaining safety. 10 15 20 25 30 Level ll - V2V The main focus in level I is on optimal control strategies based on existing technology. At present, only information on the relative speed and distance of the vehicle in front is used. This places restrictions on the optimality criteria and enables only decentralized regulation. Level II discusses the benefits and new information that V2V communication can bring. Through information from vehicles within the vehicle train, a mixture between centralized and decentralized regulation can be produced. This type of wireless information system includes i.a. radio communication, WLAN, etc. An interesting technology in this context is the new WLAN standard IEEE 802.11p. IEEE 802.11p is an add-on to IEEE 802.11 to enable wireless communication within a vehicle environment (WAVE).

The protocol specifies additional requirements to be able to support Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) applications. This includes data exchange between high-speed vehicles and between infrastructure to vehicles within the licensed frequency band 5.9 GHz (5.85 - 5.925 GHz).

Level lll - V2l During the ITS World Congress 2008, e.g. systems that can detect the speed limit held by the road. Future systems will therefore probably be able to offer additional information from the infrastructure (V2l).

Information from traffic lights, other types of road signs, etc. can create additional parameters that limit the optimal decision space. Vehicle trains will probably be able to adaptively regulate the speed in order to avoid costly steering interventions, e.g. braking, in the face of red lights. The traffic flow will thereby be optimized and traffic congestion will be minimized. Together with information from GPS, map data, distance sensors, camera surveillance, and wireless V2V communication, information from the infrastructure will form the basis for a high-quality electronic horizon, which in turn can contribute to an optimal cruise control system. Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 2 shows a flow chart illustrating a first embodiment of the invention, namely a method for organizing and administering a vehicle train using an administration unit.

The method comprises: A) receiving in the administration unit vehicle train information related to at least two vehicles where the vehicle train information includes, for each vehicle: start point and final destination of a journey; time of travel, such as departure time and / or arrival time; vehicle-specific information, such as engine power, vehicle mass, front area, fuel consumption, etc.

In this first step, for example, an administrator at a haulage company can log in to a service implemented in the administration unit. The haulier's administrator delivers information about planned journeys for the haulier's trucks, where the information includes the above - mentioned vehicle train information. Preferably, the delivered information is assigned a vehicle-specific identity for each truck.

Vehicle train information can also be transmitted via email, SMS, etc.

B) match the times of the vehicles against each other and determine a time for the vehicle train based on these.

By comparing the desired departure times and arrival times delivered to the administration unit, a departure time and an arrival time for the vehicle train are determined which correspond as closely as possible to the desired times.

Of course, consideration is given to whether a vehicle will only travel in the vehicle train for a limited part of the entire journey. 10 15 20 25 30 ll C) match the starting points and final destinations of the vehicles against each other and determine a travel route for the vehicle train based on these.

By comparing the desired start points and end destinations delivered to the administration unit, a start point and an end destination for the vehicle stage are determined which correspond as closely as possible to the desired locations. This may mean that alternative routes may also be considered.

This matching takes place in conjunction with the matching that takes place in step B because route and time are closely linked to each other. Vehicles can participate in the vehicle stage during part of the entire vehicle stage route.

D) calculate for each vehicle an individual value parameter that represents the consequences of participating in the vehicle stage, based on at least the vehicle-specific information, and the determined itinerary, where the value parameter represents one or more of fuel saving, time gain / time loss.

When the time and route have been determined for the vehicle stage, an individual calculation is made for each vehicle where the value parameter is determined. This thus provides a measure of the benefits of participating in the vehicle path and forms part of the decision basis when deciding whether a vehicle should participate in the vehicle path.

According to a preferred embodiment, the method further comprises that the following steps are performed after step D): E) issued proposals related to each vehicle regarding at least the departure time, route and arrival time of the vehicle stage, and the individual value parameter.

This can be done, for example, by sending the proposal to the person who submitted information to the administration unit, e.g. the vehicle or haulier, and can be in the form of an email, an SMS, etc. An alternative is to go in via the web and take part of the proposal on the service's website.

F) receive an acceptance signal related to vehicles that have chosen to be included in the vehicle train.

When the proposal has been received, alternatively when you have read the proposal, this can be accepted or rejected by e.g. answer the email or SMS. Alternatively, you can enter your answer via input on the website.

G) issued vehicle train instructions related to the respective vehicle that has chosen to be included in the vehicle train, where the vehicle train instructions include information at least about the departure time, route and arrival time of the vehicle train.

When a response has been received, the vehicle train instructions for each vehicle are sent out.

Alternatively, these can also be available via the website. In addition to what has been stated above, the information also contains where you can connect to the vehicle train if you do not start from the same place.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method is performed in advance before the departure time of the vehicle train.

According to another embodiment, the method is performed in real time during the journey of the vehicle train. In this way, a vehicle can receive information about the itinerary and time of ongoing vehicle trains and receive suggestions for the connection point and time for connection. The vehicles in the train can then also receive information that additional vehicles will connect.

When information is to be disseminated to the vehicles to be included in the vehicle train, for example, V21 communication as described above in connection with Figure 3 can be used. For communication between the vehicles within the vehicle train, the V2V communication described above is preferably used. The information available in system architecture I is used, for example, in method step A, this may refer to, for example, vehicle-specific information, for example engine power, vehicle mass, front area, fuel consumption.

The invention also comprises an administration unit 2 for organizing and administering a vehicle stage. The administration unit comprises a calculation module 4, a communication module 6 and a memory module 8, and will be described in more detail with reference to Figure 1.

The administration unit can, for example, be realized with a conventional personal computer adapted for the purpose.

The communication module 6 is adapted to receive vehicle train information 10 related to at least two vehicles where the vehicle train information 10 includes, for each vehicle: the start point and end destination of a journey; time of travel, such as departure time and / or arrival time; vehicle-specific information, such as engine power, vehicle mass, front area, fuel consumption, and transmitting the received vehicle train information to the calculation module 4.

The calculation module 4 is adapted to match the times of the vehicles against each other and determine a time for the vehicle train based on these; and to match the starting points and final destinations of the vehicles and determine a travel route for the vehicle train based on these. When the route is determined, map data stored in the memory module is used, among other things. The calculation module is further adapted to calculate for each vehicle an individual value parameter that represents the consequences of participating in the vehicle train, based on at least the vehicle-specific information and the determined itinerary, where the value parameter represents one or more of fuel saving, time saving / time loss. According to one embodiment, the communication module is adapted to send out proposals related to each vehicle regarding at least the departure time, route and arrival time of the vehicle train, and the individual value parameter. The communication module is further adapted to receive an acceptance signal related to the vehicles selected to be included in the vehicle train, and to send vehicle train instructions 12 related to the respective vehicles selected to be included in the vehicle train, the vehicle train instructions including information at least on vehicle train departure time, rt. The information may also include the connection point and time of connection to the vehicle train if a vehicle does not participate in the entire route of the vehicle train.

Administration unit comprises, according to one embodiment, an input and output module 14 which can for instance consist of a keyboard and a computer screen where an interface is presented to enable input of instructions and display of relevant information.

The mode of operation of the administration unit is, of course, closely related to the method described above, and everything described in connection with the method is also applicable in connection with the administration unit.

The present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above. Various alternatives, modifications and equivalents can be used.

The above embodiments are therefore not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (11)

10 15 20 25 30 15 Patent claims A method of organizing and administering a vehicle train using an administration unit, comprising: A) receiving in the administration unit vehicle train information related to at least two vehicles where the vehicle train information includes, for each vehicle: start point and final destination of a journey; time of travel, such as departure time and / or arrival time; vehicle-specific information, such as engine power, vehicle mass, front area, fuel consumption; B) match the times of the vehicles against each other and determine a time for the vehicle train based on these; C) match the starting points and final destinations of the vehicles and determine a travel route for the vehicle train based on these; D) calculate for each vehicle an individual value parameter that represents the consequences of participating in the vehicle train, based on at least the vehicle-specific information, and the determined itinerary, where the value parameter represents one or more of fuel saving, time saving / time loss. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises being implemented after step D): E) sending proposals related to each vehicle regarding at least the departure time, route and arrival time of the vehicle train, and the individual value parameter; F) receive an acceptance signal related to vehicles selected to be included in the vehicle train, and G) send vehicle train instructions related to the respective vehicles selected to be included in the vehicle train, the vehicle train instructions including information at least on the vehicle train departure time, route and arrival time. 10 15 20 25 30 16 A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the method according to step B) involves matching the times of the vehicles against each other and determining a time for the vehicle train based on these, which substantially meets the time of each vehicle. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the method is carried out in advance before the departure time of the vehicle train. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the method is carried out in real time during the journey of the vehicle train. An administration unit (2) for organizing and administering a vehicle train, the administration unit comprising a calculation module (4), a communication module (6) and a memory module (8), characterized in that the communication module (6) is adapted to receive vehicle train information (10). related to at least two vehicles where the vehicle train information includes, for each vehicle: the starting point and final destination of a journey; time of travel, such as departure time and / or arrival time; vehicle-specific information, such as engine power, vehicle mass, front area, fuel consumption, and transmitting the received vehicle train information to said calculation module, and that the calculation module (4) is adapted to match the vehicle times and determine a vehicle train time based thereon; and matching the starting points and final destinations of the vehicles against each other and determining an itinerary for the vehicle train based on these; the calculation module is further adapted to calculate for each vehicle an individual value parameter that represents the consequences of participating in the vehicle train, based on at least the vehicle-specific information and the determined itinerary, where the value parameter represents one or more of fuel saving, time saving / time loss. 10 15 20 25 17 The administration unit according to claim 6, wherein said communication module is adapted to send out proposals related to each vehicle regarding at least the departure time, route and arrival time of the vehicle train, and the individual value parameter; and is further adapted to receive an acceptance signal related to the vehicles selected to be included in the vehicle train, and to send vehicle train instructions (12) related to the respective vehicles selected to be included in the vehicle train, the vehicle train instructions including information at least on the vehicle train departure time, route and arrival time. An administration unit according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the calculation unit is adapted to match the times of the vehicles against each other and determine a time for the vehicle train based on these, which substantially meets the time of each vehicle. An administration unit according to any one of claims 6-8, wherein said vehicle train information is adapted to be transmitted via the Internet. An administration unit according to any one of claims 6-8, wherein said vehicle train information is adapted to be transmitted via the mobile network. An administration unit according to any one of claims 6-9, wherein said administration unit (2) comprises an input and output module (14).