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

  • FiveAI starts AV commuter trials in London
    October 28, 2019
    A consortium led by FiveAI called StreetWise is carrying out commuter research trials for autonomous vehicles (AVs) on public roads in London. FiveAI says the trials will aim to gather insights into AV services, which it says could offer a greener alternative to urban commuter cars. The software company is working with insurance group Direct Line and safety organisation Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) to carry out the trials in the boroughs of Croydon and Bromley. As part of the project, FiveAI has
  • MaaS Market London takes practical view of MaaS technology
    March 1, 2019
    Practical applications of new and developing technologies in the transport sector will dominate the agenda at the fourth MaaS Market conference taking place in London on March 20-21. City authorities, transport operators and senior tech industry presenters will discuss their direct experience of participating in Mobility as a Service (MaaS) projects while addressing issues such as data exchange, payment systems, interoperability and political accountability. These will include Lauri Suokannas of Taksi
  • Report: Invest now in fuel cell vehicles?
    April 24, 2015
    According to IDTechEx, there is divided opinion on future of traction fuel cells in electric vehicles, though few argue any more that they will power the majority of electric vehicles (EVs). Nonetheless some manufacturers are very enthusiastic and now could be the beginning of the end of the trough of disillusionment, indeed the time to invest, as analysed in the IDTechEx report Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles 2015-2030: Land, Water, Air. A comparison of views by IDTechEx) found that Toyota, Nissan, Honda,
  • Autonomous vehicles, smart cities: moving beyond the hype
    February 21, 2018
    There is a lot of excited chatter about autonomous vehicles – but 2getthere’s Robbert Lohmann suggests we might need to take a step back and look realistically at what is achievable. You might be surprised that the chief commercial officer of a company delivering autonomous vehicles would begin an article with the suggestion that we need to get past the hype. And yet I do; because we have to, and urgently so. The hype prevents the development of autonomous vehicles that address actual transit needs. And