Overview of platooning systems

This paper presents an overview of current projects that deal with vehicle platooning. The platooning concept can be defined as a collection of vehicles that travel close together, actively coordinated in formation. Some expected advantages of platooning include increased fuel and traffic efficiency, safety and driver comfort. There are many variations of the details of the concept such as: the goals of platooning, how it is implemented, mix of vehicles, the requirements on infrastructure, what is automated (longitudinal and lateral control) and to what level. The following projects are presented: SARTRE a European platooning project; PATH a California traffic automation program that includes platooning; GCDC a cooperative driving initiative, and; Energy ITS a Japanese truck platooning project