The Project

OBJECTIVES

  1. Interoperable platooning — when forming a scalable, multi-brand convoy – the vehicles must be compatible to ensure correct and safe operation. The project has defined two different ways of platooning, of which one will be implemented and demonstrated in the project, whilst reflecting the full diversity of trucks.
  2. Safe platooning — in ENSEMBLE designing fail-safe and fault tolerant mechanisms is a priority to include safe interaction both within the platoon and with other road users using secure wireless communication. ENSEMBLE will approach the road authorities to jointly define road approval requirements taking into account the impact of platoons on the road and infrastructure.
  3. Real-life platooning — Practical tests on closed testing grounds and in real life serve to an experience of ‘learning by doing’, to assess the impact on traffic and infrastructure and to promote multi-brand platooning through a presentation of a multi-brand platoon in real traffic conditions across national borders.
  4. Embedded platooning — ENSEMBLE will design an interface to cloud-based services so that the platooning concept can be seamlessly integrated into the logistic value chain.

ENSEMBLE concludes there are two levels relevant for specifying platooning functions:

  1. Platooning as a support function (including longitudinal control);
    • SAFETY improvement
    • Driver assistance
    • Traffic fluency  by coordinated and harmonised acceleration and deceleration of trucks
  2. Platooning as an autonomous function (both including longitudinal and lateral control, system responsible, ODD still to be defined).
    • Fuel efficiency
    • Logistics operation eficiency

IMPACT

It is the explicit aim of this project to take important steps of technological research before full deployment of multi-brand truck platooning. ENSEMBLE wants to communicate the economic, societal and environmental impact of decisions surrounding platoon forming and dissolving. ENSEMBLE also strives to modernize the transport system by finding an optimal balance between fuel consumption, emission level, travel times and impact on highway traffic flow, resulting in reduced impacts on climate change, air pollution, noise, health and accidents.

SPECIFIC IMPACTS

Europe-wide deployment of platooning with different types of vehicles in real, mixed traffic conditions
Improved traffic management due to more efficient utilisation of road capacity
Road safety and safety of heavy duty vehicles towards a fail-safe objective
Safety of heavy duty vehicles in mixed traffic
Total cost reduction in logistics and supply chain
Increased competitiveness of the European Union as a whole and specifically to OEMS and suppliers in the automotive industry

PROJECT DELIVERABLES