Cooperation protocols and negotiation algorithms for connected traffic

Technologies for mobility are making great leaps but they are still far from satisfactory. It is estimated that the newly launched autonomous vehicles will make traffic worse not better. It will take decades before all the teething problems will be sorted out, expected at SAE (formerly Society of Automotive Engineers) level 5. A small UK company has prototyped and demonstrated that the technology is available now to allow for truly connected traffic, including manned and autonomous vehicles. A dongle that inserts into the diagnostic port, and a web platform and app allow for the connectivity. More importantly, the company have researched into the human behaviour in traffic. People don’t want to surrender control over their cars to some computer, they want a system that is fairly negotiated. Hence, AI and game theory have been exploited to result such an algorithm. Connected cars can now move along in a manner that is considerate to one another, yet it makes the flow quicker due to fewer braking and acceleration events. There is an immediate decrease in pollution. At the same time, it allows for exceptional manoeuvres such as making way for an approaching ambulance vehicle. The web platform allows different stakeholders to have real time overview of different traffic situations, and to introduce rewards and penalties for different behaviour. For example, congestion charges, road tolls etc can take into account the actual pollution from a car (considering the diagnostics from the vehicle about the driver’s habits). Insurers can reward safer and considerate drivers. The app feeds all of this back to the driver and gives hints and tips around economical driving. The UK company is interested in further development of the technology under technical cooperation with stakeholders. These can be both private and government organisations (smart cities), toll road operators etc. The platform lends itself to different aims and drivers to be incorporated in solutions to be rolled out, to improve traffic for everyone.