| Revision as of 16:09, 23 January 2003 editMartinHarper (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers24,927 editsm see Future of the car, congestion benefits← Previous edit | Revision as of 16:12, 23 January 2003 edit undoMartinHarper (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers24,927 edits integrate a couple of linksNext edit → | ||
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| Platoon capability might require buying new cars, or it may be something that can be retrofitted. Drivers would probably need a special license endorsement on account of the new skills required and the added responsibility when driving in the lead. | Platoon capability might require buying new cars, or it may be something that can be retrofitted. Drivers would probably need a special license endorsement on account of the new skills required and the added responsibility when driving in the lead. | ||
| ]s with ] could automatically join and leave platoons. The ] is a proposal for one such system, where cars organise themselves into platoons of eight to twenty-five. | |||
| == Potential Benefits == | == Potential Benefits == | ||
| * Greater efficiency due to reduced |
* Greater efficiency due to reduced air resistance. | ||
| * Reduced ] | * Reduced ] | ||
| * Substantially shorter commutes during peak periods. | * Substantially shorter commutes during peak periods. | ||
| * On longer highway trips, vehicles could be mostly unattended while in following mode. | * On longer highway trips, vehicles could be mostly unattended while in following mode. | ||
| See also: |
See also: ] | ||
Revision as of 16:12, 23 January 2003
Grouping vehicles into platoons is one proposed method to increase road capacity without building additional traffic lanes.
Platoons decrease the distances between cars using electronic, and possibly mechanical, coupling. This capability would allow many cars to accelerate or brake simultaneously. Instead of waiting after a light changes to green for drivers ahead to react, a synchronized platoon would move as one, allowing up to a fivefold increase in traffic throughput.
Platoon capability might require buying new cars, or it may be something that can be retrofitted. Drivers would probably need a special license endorsement on account of the new skills required and the added responsibility when driving in the lead.
Smart cars with artificial intelligence could automatically join and leave platoons. The automated highway system is a proposal for one such system, where cars organise themselves into platoons of eight to twenty-five.
Potential Benefits
- Greater efficiency due to reduced air resistance.
- Reduced congestion
- Substantially shorter commutes during peak periods.
- On longer highway trips, vehicles could be mostly unattended while in following mode.
See also: Future of the car