Continuous platooning: a new evolutionary operating concept for automated highway systems

Proposes a new strategy for AHS called continuous platooning. Continuous platooning (CP) combines the simplicity and flexibility of autonomous intelligent cruise control (AICC) and the performance advantages of platooning. CP easily accommodates mixed traffic and is particularly amenable to evolutionary development. The authors conduct a system level analysis and optimal design for the scheme. A necessary and sufficient condition is derived for vehicle chain stability when linear control is used. Semi-infinite constrained parametric optimization is used to design the control system. Simulations show that the proposed scheme has transient response similar to or better than AICC and platooning.