Highway vehicular traffic flow control

• US 20040068393A1
• Filed: 06/11/2003
• Published: 04/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malcolm G. Lawrence
• Original Assignee: Malcolm G. Lawrence
• Inventors: Lawrence, Malcolm G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,002,486 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/183
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/01 Detecting movement of traffic to be counted or controlled G08G1/07 - G08G1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09675 where a selection from the received information takes place in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/22 Platooning, i.e. convoy of communicating vehicles

Abstract

A base station receives signals from highway traffic and sends signals to selected vehicles on the highway to command them to increase/decrease speed or charge lane in order to more closely conform to a virtual model for vehicular use of the highway.

Claims

1. A method of highway traffic flow control which method comprises receiving at a receiving station from each vehicle in a traffic capsule consisting of the vehicles travelling in a direction along a selected length of a lane of a carriageway, respective signals which signify actual highway travel characteristics for the signalling vehicle in use of the highway, comparing the highway travel characteristics of the capsule with a highway use virtual model for said capsule, and signalling one or more selected vehicles in said capsule with a command which signifies a change in at least one vehicular highway travel characteristic, said commands collectively designed to conform the actual highway travel characteristics for the capsule to those of the virtual model.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said respective signals from said vehicles in said traffic capsule signify the instantaneous global position of the signalling vehicle and its identity and type.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said respective signals from said vehicles in said traffic capsule signify respective vehicle module lengths for the vehicles therein and respective vehicle velocities for the same vehicles, and wherein the highway use model comprises a set of highway model use values including values for respective model velocities for the vehicles in the traffic capsule and values for respective model vehicle module lengths for said vehicles.

4. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the model is designed to maximise the quantum of traffic flow as represented by the rate of displacement forward along the road of the highway traffic capsule.

5. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the respective model vehicle module lengths are in each case the sum of the length of the vehicle in