Skip to main content

Dutch autonomous vehicle project to develop platooning

The i-CAVE (integrated Cooperative Automated Vehicles) research program, led by Prof. Dr H. Nijmeijer of the Technical University of Eindhoven and funded through a recently awarded grant of US$4.2 million, aims to develop vehicles that can run both autonomously on dedicated roads or cooperatively on public roads. i-CAVE focuses on all important aspects involved in the development of such dual mode systems. Other participants include Delft University of Technology and University of Twente, 2getthere, DAF
December 1, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
The i-CAVE (integrated Cooperative Automated Vehicles) research program, led by Prof. Dr H. Nijmeijer of the Technical University of Eindhoven and funded through a recently awarded grant of US$4.2 million, aims to develop vehicles that can run both autonomously on dedicated roads or cooperatively on public roads. i-CAVE focuses on all important aspects involved in the development of such dual mode systems.

Other participants include Delft University of Technology and University of Twente,  8172 2getthere, DAF, 278 Ford, Segula, 1692 TomTom, Mapscape, 4474 V-Tron, 818 Technolution, Almende, 481 ANWB, ECT, Grontmij, 62 IBM, iCELL, 5460 NXP, SIG, 7087 TNO, Witteveen + Bos, Automotive, the municipalities of Eindhoven and Helmond and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment.

It is expected that autonomous vehicles can offer great benefits in the future, but it will take many years before they will be integrated in normal traffic situations. Various governments are participating in this program believing dual mode systems could be the solution for traffic problems, particularly in urban settings.

Within the cooperative vehicle control part of the program, 2getthere will work on the development of platooning - vehicles driving as a virtual train by accelerating and decelerating simultaneously and being able to enter and leave the platoon.

Sjoerd van der Zwaan, CTO of 2getthere, says, “Platooning is difficult to develop. It has been subject of research for years, but an affordable and practical solution is not available yet. And that is the aim of our work within this research project."

Van der Zwaan is enthusiastic with the funds awarded: "The outcome of this research will contribute to our own technology roadmap. Our specific interest in platooning is that it will enable us to improve performance and capacity (in terms of maximum number of passengers per hour per direction). The results of this project will give us insight into the control algorithms to achieve secure and robust implementation of platooning, as well as insight into the sensors and technology needed."

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • TomTom calls for people to star in its new road movie
    June 3, 2016
    TomTom is calling on drivers around the world to get involved in a short film celebrating life on the road. From the everyday to the extraordinary, TomTom wants drivers to capture and share their favourite driving experiences for the chance to star in the film, called Life in a Car. The film will be made entirely from footage shot by real drivers, and will be directed by Natalia Andreadis, who worked on Ridley Scott's award-winning crowd-sourced movie, Life in a Day. It will premiere in September this ye
  • Traffic signal priority initiatives aid better bus travel
    March 15, 2012
    David Crawford investigates traffic signal priority initiatives developing for better bus travel on the US Pacific Coast Transit patronage rises by an average of 35% along commuter corridors equipped with bus rapid transit (BRT) systems, according to the US Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA). BRT as defined as bus transit enhanced with ITS systems for better services, is winning new passengers attracted by opportunity to avoid increasing fuel costs and traffic congestion.
  • Future EV owners can make money from the power grid
    May 17, 2012
    In what is being claimed as a landmark research report published by Ricardo and National Grid in the UK, the market potential is demonstrated for an electric plug-in vehicle fleet of the future to provide balancing services to the power grid on a commercial basis, returning value to vehicle owners while improving the carbon efficiency of grid operation.
  • ITS World Congress 2021: making it real
    August 17, 2021
    ITS World Congress 2021 will be held in Hamburg, Germany, in October, and will focus on showcasing the reality of ITS innovations now, says organiser Ertico-ITS Europe