| CPC G08G 1/164 (2013.01) [G08G 1/0116 (2013.01); G08G 1/0125 (2013.01); G08G 1/167 (2013.01); G08G 1/161 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
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1. A vehicle operations and control system for controlling special vehicles, said system comprising
a) a roadside unit (RSU) network comprising a plurality of RSUs in road infrastructure, each of the plurality of RSUs configured to receive data from special vehicles, detect traffic conditions, and send control instructions to special vehicles; wherein each of the plurality of RSUs comprise a communications module, a sensing module, and a data processing module; the RSU network generates and provides vehicle specific control instructions including vehicle longitudinal and lateral speed, acceleration, and movement, and angular movement; and the RSU network conducts transportation behavior prediction and management, and provides planning and decision making;
b) a Traffic Control Unit (TCU) and Traffic Control Center (TCC) network comprising a TCU and a TCC residing in a remote facility, that processes information and traffic operations instructions and provides control instructions to special vehicles;
c) a vehicle comprising an onboard unit (OBU);
d) a cloud-based platform configured to provide information and computing services, wherein said TCC and TCU are automatic or semi-automated computational modules that conduct planning and decision making; provide data gathering, data processing, information processing, network optimization, and traffic control; and
generate and provide vehicle specific control instructions including vehicle longitudinal and lateral speed, acceleration, and movement, and angular movement; and wherein said vehicle operations and control system is configured to provide individual special vehicles with detailed control instructions for vehicle following, lane changing, and route guidance including vehicle longitudinal and lateral speed, acceleration, and movement, and angular movement; and
wherein said system is configured to provide sensing functions, transportation behavior prediction and management functions, planning and decision-making functions, and vehicle control functions by using the plurality of RSUs, the OBU, the TCU, the TCC, and the cloud-based platform; and wherein said transportation behavior prediction and management function is configured to provide:
a) longitudinal control of one or more vehicles, wherein said longitudinal control comprises controlling automated heavy vehicle platoons, automated heavy and light vehicle platoons, and automated and manual vehicle platoons, and said longitudinal control instructions include vehicle longitudinal speed, acceleration, deceleration, and movement;
b) a freight priority management system for controlling heavy vehicle priority levels to reduce the acceleration and deceleration of automated vehicles and for providing smooth traffic movement on dedicated or non-dedicated lanes;
c) weight loading monitoring for one or more vehicles, wherein said weight loading monitoring comprises use of an artificial intelligence-based vehicle loading technology, cargo weight and packing volume information, and vehicle specification information;
d) special event notifications comprising information for goods type, serial number, delivery station, loading vehicle location, unloading vehicle location, shipper, consignee, vehicle number, and loading quantity;
e) incident detection comprising monitoring status of tires, status of braking components, and status of sensors;
f) manage oversize and/or overweight (OSOW) vehicles; to provide routing services for OSOW vehicles;
g) provide permitting services for OSOW vehicles, wherein said permitting services comprise applying for permits, paving for permits, and receiving approved routes based on road system constraints and the intended vehicle and load characteristics; and
h) provide route planning and guidance to vehicles comprising providing vehicles with routes and schedules according to vehicle length, height, load weight, axis number, origin, and destination.
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