Signal control optimization for automated vehicles at isolated signalized intersections

Traffic signals at intersections are an integral component of the existing transportation system and can significantly contribute to vehicular delay along urban streets. The current emphasis on the development of automated (i.e., driverless and with the ability to communicate with the infrastructure) vehicles brings at the forefront several questions related to the functionality and optimization of signal control in order to take advantage of automated vehicle capabilities. The objective of this research is to develop a signal control algorithm that allows for vehicle paths and signal control to be jointly optimized based on advanced communication technology between approaching vehicles and signal controller. The algorithm assumes that vehicle trajectories can be fully optimized, i.e., vehicles will follow the optimized paths specified by the signal controller. An optimization algorithm was developed assuming a simple intersection with two single-lane through approaches. A rolling horizon scheme was developed to implement the algorithm and to continually process newly arriving vehicles. The algorithm was coded in MATLAB and results were compared against traditional actuated signal control for a variety of demand scenarios. It was concluded that the proposed signal control optimization algorithm could reduce the ATTD by 16.2–36.9% and increase throughput by 2.7–20.2%, depending on the demand scenario.     

A proposed vision and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication-based vehicle positioning approach

It is essential to obtain accurate location of vehicles for new applications of Intelligent Transportation Systems. To remedy the defects of present Global Positioning System and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V-I) positioning technology, a new positioning approach based on vision and V-I communication is proposed. This approach aims at lane-level positioning with lower cost than conventional ones. In this approach, the position of the vehicle is represented by its lateral position (the lane number) and longitudinal position (the distance from entrance of the road) in a course coordinate system along the road; the specific lane the vehicle is occupying (the lane number) can be judged using the information of lane lines detected by vision systems; then the distance to the vehicle is obtained by a Road Side Unit (RSU) during the V-I communication; and the longitudinal position is calculated. The error of the approach on typical operating conditions is analyzed, indicating that the new approach can achieve the accuracy of less than 0.31 m for straight road and 0.58 m for typical arc road with ultra-wideband communication and ranging technologies and rational arrangement of RSUs. The feasibility of this approach is presented.     

Plate scanning tools to obtain travel times in traffic networks

The management of vehicle travel times has been shown to be fundamental to traffic network analysis. To collect travel time measurement, some methods focus solely on isolated links or highway segments, and where two measurement points, at the beginning and at the end of a section, are deemed sufficient to evaluate users' travel time. However, in many cases, transport studies involve networks in which the problem is more complex. This article takes advantage of the plate scanning technique to propose an algorithm that minimizes the required number of registering devices and their location in order to identify vehicles candidates to compute the travel times of a given set of routes (or subroutes). The merits of the proposed method are explained using simple examples and are illustrated by its application to the real network of Ciudad Real.     

圆形隧道施工对不同深度地层沉降影响的模型试验研究

为了预测圆形隧道施工引起地表以下不同埋深地层沉降特征,首先,通过理论推导不同地层最大沉降位移与沉降槽宽度系数的函数关系;然后,建立包括试验台架、地层模型、圆形隧道开挖模型以及测量地层变形装置的平面应变模型试验系统。通过理论解析和模型试验可知:1)地表以下地层的最大沉降位移与沉降槽宽度系数成反比;2)不同深度地层的沉降位移随着地层埋深的增加而增大,且地表以下地层沉降槽曲线仍然符合正态分布;3)通过对模型试验数据进行回归分析,得到黏土地表以下不同深度地层沉降槽宽度系数的计算公式,从而为预测圆形隧道施工地表以下不同深度地层竖向位移提供了一种可靠的计算方法。     

多元评价体系组合模型在铁路隧道变形预测中的应用

为克服传统预测模型结构单一、预测精度及稳定性不足等缺陷,提出多元体系组合预测模型的建模思路。首先,基于支持向量机、BP神经网络及ARMA模型3种单一预测模型,构建铁路隧道变形预测体系;再以均方根误差、误差平方和及平均绝对误差等为评价准则或指标,构建各预测结果的误差评价体系,求解各单项预测模型的权值贡献指数,得到最优组合权值;然后利用后验差检验、残差检验和关联度检验构建预测精度校验体系,对组合预测结果进行检验,评价预测模型的有效性;最后,结合工程实例,对多元体系组合预测模型在特大断面隧道中的变形预测效果进行检验。结果表明:多元评价体系组合模型预测相对误差值均小于2%,具有较高的预测精度,且较单一预测模型具有更高的预测精度,也一致通过相关检验,验证了多元体系组合预测模型的有效性。     

城市地下道路分(合)流匝道通风阻力特性

为分析多点进出结构的城市地下道路空气流动特性,以长沙市营盘路湘江隧道为原型,通过现场实测、缩尺模型试验以及CFD软件数值模拟方法,对分(合)匝道通风阻力特性进行了研究,考察了雷诺数、风量比、分岔角度对分(合)流匝道阻力特性的影响规律。研究结果表明:1)主隧道与匝道风量比、主隧道与匝道夹角是影响分(合)流匝道局部阻力系数的关键因素;2)城市地下道路分(合)流匝道局部阻力变化特性,不宜简单套用通风管道的三通构件的参数;3)结合最小二乘法和Matlab软件对计算结果进行多因素回归分析,给出了基于长沙营盘路湘江隧道的分(合)流匝道主隧道和匝道的局部阻力系数关联式。研究结果可为复杂结构城市地下道路通风系统阻力特性分析及通风工程优化设计提供方法参考。     

盾构隧道EPDM橡胶密封垫本构参数试验研究

为合理确定盾构隧道接缝EPDM弹性密封垫橡胶材料的本构模型及其参数,采用CMT4304型微机控制电子万能试验机,进行单轴拉伸试验和单轴压缩试验,并利用ABAQUS有限元分析软件对试验数据进行分析,从模型符合性和材料稳定性2方面进行评价,得出常用硬度EPDM橡胶材料的推荐本构模型及其参数。结果表明:邵尔硬度为45 HA和60 HA的EPDM橡胶,采用Arruda-Boyce或van der Waals本构模型较合适;邵尔硬度为55 HA的EPDM橡胶,采用Arruda-Boyce或Yeoh本构模型较合适;邵尔硬度为65 HA的EPDM橡胶,采用Mooeny-Rivlin本构模型较合适。     

Magneto-rheological suspensions for improving ground vehicle’s ride comfort,stability, and handling

ABSTRACT

A state-of-the-art discussion on the applications of magneto-rheological (MR) suspensions for improving ride comfort, handling, and stability in ground vehicles is discussed for both road and rail applications. A historical perspective on the discovery and engineering development of MR fluids is presented, followed by some of the common methods for modelling their non-Newtonian behaviour. The common modes of the MR fluids are discussed, along with the application of the fluid in valve mode for ground vehicles’ dampers (or shock absorbers). The applications span across nearly all road vehicles, including automobiles, trains, semi-trucks, motorcycles, and even bicycles. For each type of vehicle, the results of some of the past studies is presented briefly, with reference to the originating study. It is discussed that Past experimental and modelling studies have indicated that MR suspensions provide clear advantages for ground vehicles that far surpasses the performance of passive suspension. For rail vehicles, the primary advantage is in terms of increasing the speed at which the onset of hunting occurs, whereas for road vehicles – mainly automobiles – the performance improvements are in terms of a better balance between vehicle ride, handling, and stability. To further elaborate on this point, a single-suspension model is used to develop an index-based approach for studying the compromise that is offered by vehicle suspensions, using the H₂ optimisation approach. Evaluating three indices based on the sprung-mass acceleration, suspension rattlespace, and tyre deflection, it is clearly demonstrated that MR suspensions significantly improve road vehicle’s ride comfort, stability, and handling in comparison with passive suspensions. For rail vehicles, the simulation results indicate that using MR suspensions with an on-off switching control can increase the speed at which the on-set of hunting occurs by as much as 50% to more than 300%.     

A receding horizon sliding control approach for electric powertrains with backlash and flexible half-shafts

Active control of electric powertrains is challenging, due to the fact that backlash and structural flexibility in transmission components can cause severe performance degradation or even instability of the control system. Furthermore, high impact forces in transmissions reduce driving comfort and possibly lead to damage of the mechanical elements in contact. In this paper, a nonlinear electric powertrain is modelled as a piecewise affine (PWA) system. The novel receding horizon sliding control (RHSC) idea is extended to constrained PWA systems and utilised to systematically address the active control problem for electric powertrains. Simulations are conducted in Matlab/Simulink in conjunction with the high fidelity Carsim software. RHSC shows superior jerk suppression and target wheel speed tracking performance as well as reduced computational cost over classical model predictive control (MPC). This indicates the newly proposed RHSC is an effective method to address the active control problem for electric powertrains.     

State estimation in roll dynamics for commercial vehicles

Accurate lateral load transfer estimation plays an important role in improving the performance of the active rollover prevention system equipped in commercial vehicles. This estimation depends on the accurate prediction of roll angles for both the sprung and the unsprung subsystems. This paper proposes a novel computational method for roll-angle estimation in commercial vehicles employing sensors which are already used in a vehicle dynamic control system without additional expensive measurement units. The estimation strategy integrates two blocks. The first block contains a sliding-mode observer which is responsible for calculating the lateral tyre forces, while in the second block, the Kalman filter estimates the roll angles of the sprung mass and those of axles in the truck. The validation is conducted through MATLAB/TruckSim co-simulation. Based on the comparison between the estimated results and the simulation results from TruckSim, it can be concluded that the proposed estimation method has a promising tracking performance with low computational cost and high convergence speed. This approach enables a low-cost solution for the rollover prevention in commercial vehicles.