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Cooperation protocols and negotiation algorithms for connected traffic

Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Reference Number: TOUK20200910002
Publication Date: 10 September 2020

Summary

A UK company has prototyped and demonstrated hardware and software for truly connected traffic. Importantly, it considers human behaviour and promises an easier acceptance. Furthermore, it gives stakeholders real time overview of traffic and motorists and lets introduce tailored rewards for safer and less polluting motorists. Government and insurance organisations and manufacturers of traffic solutions are sought for technical cooperation.

Description

Technologies for mobility are making great leaps but they are still far from satisfactory. It is estimated that the newly launched autonomous vehicles will make traffic worse not better. It will take decades before all the teething problems will be sorted out, expected at SAE (formerly Society of Automotive Engineers) level 5. 



A small UK company has prototyped and demonstrated that the technology is available now to allow for truly connected traffic, including manned and autonomous vehicles. A dongle that inserts into the diagnostic port, and a web platform and app allow for the connectivity.



More importantly, the company have researched into the human behaviour in traffic. People don’t want to surrender control over their cars to some computer, they want a system that is fairly negotiated. Hence, AI and game theory have been exploited to result such an algorithm.



Connected cars can now move along in a manner that is considerate to one another, yet it makes the flow quicker due to fewer braking and acceleration events. There is an immediate decrease in pollution. At the same time, it allows for exceptional manoeuvres such as making way for an approaching ambulance vehicle.



The web platform allows different stakeholders to have real time overview of different traffic situations, and to introduce rewards and penalties for different behaviour. For example, congestion charges, road tolls etc can take into account the actual pollution from a car (considering the diagnostics from the vehicle about the driver’s habits). Insurers can reward safer and considerate drivers.



The app feeds all of this back to the driver and gives hints and tips around economical driving.



The UK company is interested in further development of the technology under technical cooperation with stakeholders. These can be both private and government organisations (smart cities), toll road operators etc. The platform lends itself to different aims and drivers to be incorporated in solutions to be rolled out, to improve traffic for everyone.

Advantages and Innovations

The hardware platform has been demonstrated and it is easy to scale up.

The software platform has taken into account both the latest technologies and the actual consumer behaviour.

Stage Of Development

Available for demonstration

Requested partner

Type of partner sought: industry and government.



Specific activity of partner sought: stakeholders and developers charged with providing better solutions for traffic, including connected and autonomous vehicles.



Role of partner sought: local government organisations and insurers are invited to discuss metrics and drivers for consumer behaviour. These can be built into tailored solutions and validated on test sites. Developers and manufacturers are sought to help improve the solution and to roll it out.