United States Department of Transportation
i
Human Factors Issues Related to Truck Platooning Operations
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2024-03-01
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[PDF-1.79 MB]
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Edition:Technical Report
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Abstract:Partially automated truck platooning is an emerging technology that allows heavy trucks to follow each other at close distances via automated speed control and direct wireless communications between vehicle systems. This technology, known as cooperative adaptive cruise control (CACC), allows vehicles to detect and respond rapidly to changes in the speed of the vehicle ahead to maintain a set following gap. Automated truck platooning is expected to offer several economic and environmental benefits in a mixed-fleet environment, including improved traffic flow, reduced fuel consumption, and fewer emissions of harmful greenhouse gases. However, how light-vehicle drivers will respond to truck platoons on public roads is unclear. The purpose of the project is to identify, explore, and conduct research related to key anticipated human factors issues that may arise from the operation of partially automated trucks on public highways. First, the research team reviewed existing literature of the state of partially automated truck technology and conducted a predicted operational framework. Next, the team developed a behavioral survey to evaluate driver perceptions of truck operations. The team also conducted a behavioral laboratory experiment to collect driver feedback on novel sign stimuli to communicate platoon activity. The results from these efforts provided critical background information on how drivers perceive, understand, and react to single and grouped trucks on the highway. These findings then supported the development of the first of two driving simulator experiments to explore driver behavior near signed and unsigned partially automated truck platoons at critical highway conflict points. The second experiment was further implemented based on the same roadway scenarios with additional features to evaluate the effects of platoon size and gap distance on behavior and driver perceptions. The results of the experiments can help develop guidance and recommendations for signing and operation of partially automated truck platoons in mixed-fleet environments on public highways.
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