Study on the Deviation Characteristics of Driving Trajectories for Autonomous Vehicles and the Design of Dedicated Lane Widths

Yuansheng Cao, Yonggang Liao, Jiancong Lai, Tianjie Shen and Xiaofei Wang ()
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Yuansheng Cao: School of Civil Engineering and Transportation, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China
Yonggang Liao: Guangzhou Municipal Engineering Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510060, China
Jiancong Lai: Guangzhou Municipal Engineering Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510060, China
Tianjie Shen: School of Civil Engineering and Transportation, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China
Xiaofei Wang: School of Civil Engineering and Transportation, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 21, 1-18

Abstract: The vehicular trajectory offset represents a critical controlling element in the design of lane width. In light of the paucity of extant research on the lane widths for dedicated autonomous vehicle lanes, this study deployed the PreScan-Simulink co-simulation platform. Based on the established typical lateral and longitudinal control methods for autonomous vehicles, we initially identified the primary factors influencing trajectory offset through multifactorial coupled analysis. Subsequently, we conducted quantitative research on vehicle trajectory offset using S-shaped curves to elucidate the patterns in geometric elements’ impact on trajectory offset. Following this, we established a model of the relationship between design speed and trajectory offset under different vehicle types. Ultimately, we calculated the lane width values for scenarios involving varying positions and numbers of dedicated lanes. The results demonstrate that vehicle speed significantly impacts the trajectory offsets of autonomous vehicles. For passenger cars, the mean offset at speeds between 60 and 130 km/h is approximately 10 cm. At higher speeds of 140–150 km/h, the offset is more variable. The range of offset exhibited by trucks at speeds between 60 and 100 km/h is [8 cm, 16 cm]. In the case of a single dedicated lane, the width of the inner lanes intended for passenger cars is [2.60 m, 3.00 m], while the outer lanes designed to accommodate trucks have a width of [3.00 m, 3.20 m]. In scenarios with two dedicated lanes, the width of lanes for passenger cars can be reduced further, whereas the required lane width for trucks remains largely unchanged compared to that for single-lane setups. The conclusions show that the width of lanes adapted to autonomous vehicles could be reduced, which could help to optimize the use of road space, thus potentially reducing the occupation of land resources, reducing the environmental impact of road construction, and contributing to sustainable development. This study also provides valuable insights for the design of lanes dedicated to autonomous vehicles.

Keywords: sustainable transportation; dedicated lane; land-saving design; co-simulation; autonomous vehicle; trajectory offset (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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