Combining Vehicular Platoons With Unsignalized Intersections

Alberto Heras (University of Arizona), Lykes Claytor (Wofford College)

Traffic congestion is major source of energy, monetary, and time loss. Previous research has, through the use of autonomous vehicles, devised formations called platoons to increase traffic efficiency on highways, as well as signalized and un-signalized intersection management systems so that wait time at intersections is minimized. The intersection management methodology that is proposed in this paper, in order to reduce delay experienced at intersections, will combine both platooning of autonomous vehicles and the un-signalized intersection by organizing platoons based on their expected paths through an intersection. To simulate this method of intersection management, the simulators SUMO and OMNET++, in conjunction with another program called PLEXE, will be used. The results of this research show the delay of an intersection in relation to the platoon depth. Another foreseen benefit is the reduction of the computational cost of previous work while also increasing the efficiency of traffic flow in comparison to conventional methods.