A Simplified Framework for String Stability Analysis of Automated Vehicles*

Automated vehicles traveling in platoons must exhibit stability both individually and as a group, a property referred to as “string stability”. We propose a new framework for evaluating the longitudinal string stability properties of platoons of automated vehicles. In this framework, the platoon is considered to be a mass-spring-damper system with linear characteristics. The resulting closed-loop representation yields transfer functions and impulse responses that can be analyzed to determine the string stability properties of the platoon. This framework facilitates qualitative comparisons of the effects of various controller characteristics, such as time headway and intervehicle communication, on string stability.     

Control of personal rapid transit systems

The problem of precise longitudinal control of vehicles so that they follow predetermined time-varying speeds and positions has been solved. To control vehicles to the required close headway of at least 0.5 sec, the control philosophy is different from but no less rigorous than that of railroad practice. The preferred control strategy is one that could be called an “asynchronous point follower.” Such a strategy requires no clock synchronization, is flexible in all unusual conditions, permits the maximum possible throughput, requires a minimum of maneuvering and uses a minimum of software. Since wayside zone controllers have in their memory exactly the same maneuver equations as the on-board computers, accurate safety monitoring is practical. The paper discusses the functions of vehicle control; the control of station, merge, and diverge zones; and central control.     

The impact of port choice on inland transportation

The Belgian government intends to shift part of its funding away from Antwerp and towards other seaports, particularly Ghent and Zeebrugge. In the long run, this policy change will undoubtedly influence the port choice and probably cause a traffic diversion at the expense of Antwerp. This will have a great influence on the structure of inland transportation.

The impact of port choice on inland transportation is the central theme of this paper. To this end a disaggregated model of the demand for freight transport is constructed.     

Novel Manufacturing Technology of Hyperbolic Plates for Shipbuilding

On the basis of the principle of dieless hydrobulging technology, a novel hydrobulging technology for manufacturinghyperbolic plates is proposed. First, a toroidal pipe elbow or a partial toroidal pipe elbow is formed, then the single hydrobulgedstructure can be cut up into some desired plates. It is proved by experiments and finite element simulation that manufacturingtechnology of hyperbolic plates adopting integrated hydrobulging forming technology is feasible.     

Collision damage of jack-ups

North Sea collision accident records covering a period of ten years indicate that the risk of collisions involving jack-ups is not dissimilar to that for semi-submersibles or fixed jacket structures. However, jack-ups are much more flexible than jackets and have a much lower degree of redundancy. Their response to collisions and their ability to absorb impact energy is, therefore, expected to be considerably different in comparison to jackets. This paper examines available data and information regarding the capability of jack-ups to withstand collision impacts and investigates the level of local damage that can potentially be caused to jack-up legs due to accidental collisions.     

A 2D long term advection—dispersion model for the Channel and southern North Sea Part B: Transit time and transfer function from Cap de La Hague

A 2D advection-dispersion model, already described and validated, has been used to provide information about water trajectories, transit times, transfer factors and transfer functions in the Channel and North Sea, south of 57 ° N.It shows that a fast vein of water moves parallel to the coast and reaches the northern limit of the model in one year. Along the coast, a few dozen kilometers from this vein, transit times increase by 2–4 months.Tidal gyres in the Channel recirculate waters and dissolved elements for about 2 yr, and in all it generally takes 3 yr for a specific discharge made at La Hague to completely leave the area under study.The transfer factor was depicted and found to be of the order of 10⁻⁵ m.k.s.One utilization of the transfer function could be to predict the future evolution of water content in the months and years following a discharge in these coastal waters.     

Scale and rationalization in container shipping

Return to scale are important in container shipping: service operators are continuing to increase the size of their vessels. Mr Seok-Min Lim's article 'Economies of container ship size' (Maritime pollicy and Management,21(2) pages 149-160, 1994) uses a sample of transPacific voyages to evaluate the effect of vessel scale on revenue and cost.Although the results are inconclusive,his study is of value in drawing attention to the revenue-side problems of large containerships. More data need to be collected before the effects of topping up with low-rated cargo on unit revenue retention can be assessed. Meanwhile the pursuit of scale aggravates over-tonnaging. The required response is further rationalization, through the medium of the conferences and the container consortia. In Europe both are under political attack. Operators need to convince the authorities of the soundness of the soundness of their case for adapting these institutions to the neeeds of times.Otherwise the scramble for scale could spell disaster.     

Behavioral analysis and transportation planning: Inputs to transit planning

The purpose of this paper is to discuss various types of behavioral data of potential relevance to transit planning. In particular a distinction is drawn between behavorial information regarding feelings, attitudes, opinions, and the like and more sophisticated types of data dealing with individuals' intentions to respond in certain ways given certain configurations of stimuli (transportation variables). The former is shown to be an important input to incremental planning, i.e., where information as to system performance is desired. The latter is shown to be critical to decisions regarding manipulations of transit system parameters, i.e., where knowledge of the outcome of manipulating system parameters is desired.A methodological example as to how the first type of data — informational level data — can be collected and utilized in system planning is presented. Specifically, data collected along the lines of traditional attitude surveys is collected in an attempt to monitor changes in public satisfaction with the Iowa City, Iowa, bus system before and after major system innovations. Implications of the collection and analytical procedures are discussed.This report was produced as part of a program of research and training in urban transportation sponsored by the Urban Mass Transportation Administration of the Department of Transportation.