US 11,688,284 B2
Control system for platooning of vehicles
Kevin Haugh, Alexandria, VA (US); Philip Friedman, Dallas, TX (US); Jeffrey Champa, Heath, TX (US); and Wesley Mays, Coppell, TX (US)
Assigned to Omnitracs, LLC, Dallas, TX (US)
Filed by OMNITRACS, LLC, Dallas, TX (US)
Filed on Mar. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/694,273.
Application 17/694,273 is a continuation of application No. 16/431,347, filed on Jun. 4, 2019, granted, now 11,282,396.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/806,468, filed on Feb. 15, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0198938 A1, Jun. 23, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G08G 1/00 (2006.01); G06Q 10/0631 (2023.01); G01C 21/34 (2006.01); G08G 1/123 (2006.01); G08G 1/0968 (2006.01); G08G 1/0967 (2006.01)
CPC G08G 1/22 (2013.01) [G01C 21/3453 (2013.01); G06Q 10/06315 (2013.01); G08G 1/202 (2013.01); G08G 1/0967 (2013.01); G08G 1/0968 (2013.01); G08G 1/123 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method executable by a network-based control computer for controlling vehicles for platooning, comprising:
receiving, via a communication network, a plurality of electronic signals conveying a plurality of vehicle information for a plurality of vehicles, each vehicle information comprises at least a vehicle identifier of the vehicle and vehicle location information, wherein the plurality of vehicles are equipped with communication and safety systems that facilitate vehicle platooning;
identifying a first subset of the plurality of vehicles that are candidates for platooning in a geographic area based on the plurality of vehicle information and the plurality of vehicles equipped with communication and safety systems that facilitate vehicle platooning;
selecting at least one second subset of vehicles to be included in at least one platooning convoy from the first subset that are candidates for platooning in the geographic area based in part on logistic constraints for each vehicle identified in the first subset; and
transmitting, via the communication network, a platooning configuration to the at least one second subset of vehicles for initiating the at least one platooning convoy,
whereby the vehicles in the second subset of vehicles form at least one platooning convoy in accordance with the transmitted platooning configuration.