Abstract
Truck automation is emerging as an innovative technology with benefits in traffic safety and the economy to revolutionize freight traffic. Despite these benefits, the potential negative or positive effects of different driving automation levels (from no automation to full automation) on highway geometry remained to be determined. In this study, differences related to sight distance characteristics among varied automation levels were firstly discussed and calibrated. Then, seven analysis scenarios of typical levels were proposed. Based on each level with tailored characteristics, the current models of geometric design elements including the required stopping sight distance, horizontal sight line offset, and lengths of vertical curves were revised. Finally, impacts of each level on computed values of those elements were evaluated. Results show that high or full driving automation could substantially lower the requirements of geometric design. Active safety systems have a similar role but with less significant effects. Differently, the driver assistance and partial or conditional automation systems put a higher demand on the road geometric design in terms of driving safety. Outcomes of this study can be used to design real-world geometry of dedicated lanes and provide a methodological basis for the operation of different driving automation features.
Highlights
Over the last decades, rapid innovations of artificial intelligence and sensor technology within the automotive sector have brought about dramatic advances in the field of transportation
Given the rapid growth of driving automation technology, there is a pressing need to uncover its impact on highway geometry
L0 defined by Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) International [14], is adjusted for our analysis. en, anticipated performances of human drivers in different automation levels were investigated by describing their possible involved tasks
Summary
Rapid innovations of artificial intelligence and sensor technology within the automotive sector have brought about dramatic advances in the field of transportation. From a technical perspective, when equipped with high-definition maps [21, 22], high-tech perception sensors [23], and reliable planning and control algorithms [24], AVs are capable of automatically dealing with risk circumstances and fully adapting to the current practices of highway geometry As it remains unknown when and whether fully automated vehicles will come and how the transitional automation levels will affect the geometric design elements, the objective of this study was to quantify the potential negative or positive effects of segregated driving automation levels on highway geometric design from the perspective of trucks. Differences related to characteristics of sight distance among varied automation levels are discussed. en, the influence of each automation level with tailored features on highway geometric design elements is calculated and analyzed. e final section provides conclusions of the work
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