US 12,437,633 B2
Methods and systems for operating vehicles to reduce bunching
Mary Amelia Walker, Phoenix, AZ (US); Robert Catron, Phoenix, AZ (US); and Nicholas Hickson, Phoenix, AZ (US)
Assigned to Freeport-McMoRan, Inc., Phoenix, AZ (US)
Filed by Freeport-McMoRan Inc., Phoenix, AZ (US)
Filed on Aug. 19, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/891,285.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/236,034, filed on Aug. 23, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0058576 A1, Feb. 23, 2023
Int. Cl. G08G 1/01 (2006.01)
CPC G08G 1/0133 (2013.01) [G08G 1/0112 (2013.01); G08G 1/0145 (2013.01)] 32 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of operating vehicles traveling on a roadway, comprising:
determining an intra arrival time for two consecutive vehicles traveling on the roadway, wherein said determining the intra arrival time comprises:
determining a first time when a first vehicle of the two consecutive vehicles passes a defined location on the roadway;
determining a second time when a second vehicle of the two consecutive vehicles passes the defined location on the roadway; and
setting the intra arrival time to be equal to a difference between the first and second times;
calculating a virtual spacing between the two consecutive vehicles based on the intra arrival time;
determining a following distance threshold;
comparing the virtual spacing between the two consecutive vehicles with the following distance threshold;
determining that the two consecutive vehicles are in a bunched condition when the virtual spacing between the two consecutive vehicles is less than the following distance threshold; and
applying at least one vehicle control to at least one of the two consecutive vehicles until the two consecutive vehicles are no longer in the bunched condition.