Method for platooning of vehicles in an automated vehicle system
US8682511B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 26, 2009 |
| Grant date | Mar 25, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 8, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG08G1/22
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Disclosed is a method of increasing track capacity in an automated vehicle system, the automated vehicle system comprising a network of tracks along which vehicles are adapted to travel, the network comprising at least one merge point at which at least two up stream tracks merge to form a downstream track, at least one diverge point at which one upstream track diverges to form at least two down-stream tracks and a plurality of stations at which passengers may board and/or disembark from the vehicles; wherein the method comprises controlling vehicles so as to cause empty vehicles to travel as at least one sequence of vehicles defined as a platoon; and controlling the empty vehicles of the at least one sequence to travel with a first safety distance between each other, the first safety distance being shorter than a second safety distance between vehicles being at least partially loaded.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.