Implications of Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control�for the Traffic Flow

Abstract

Over the past decades goods transportation has been increasing and current widely accepted forecast studies predict a continuation of this trend and a further growth for the coming decades. In order to cope with this growing demand a better use of existing infrastructure is needed. In order to achieve this optimisation of infrastructure use, intelligent transportation systems and telematics are considered of central importance, by political organisations as well as by freight forwarders and drivers. » Scope of the presentation Current research activity is focusing on the driving assistance system Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control (CACC) by projects like KONVOI, SARTRE and PATH. The CACC-system enables the coupling of several vehicles to build a platoon. Whereas the first vehicle of such a platoon is driven manually, the following vehicles operate fully automated, controlled by the CACC. The technology is developed for long haulage trucks and has been tested successfully already by the RWTH Aachen, Germany. on the road, ,. Furthermore, first simulations of trucks and cars equipped with CACC showed positive effects in form of a harmonisation of the general traffic flow and a reduction of travelling time for the individual vehicle. So far though, it is not known which effects CACC has on the traffic flow on the road in general and the travelling time of platoons of long haulage trucks in a fleet has not been analysed yet. A PhD-thesis, which will be finished this year, is contributing to closing this gap by simulating the scenario. The results of this research project will be presented at the conference. » Objectives of the presentation Practitioners in administration and logistics are addressed by presenting the results of the investigation of impact of cooperative adaptive cruise control on traffic flow. Several implications of the utility of CACC will be demonstrated.