Optimal Coordination of Platoons of Connected and Automated Vehicles at Signal-Free Intersections

Abstract: In this paper, we address the problem of coordinating platoons of connected and automated vehicles at signal-free intersections. We present a decentralized, two-level optimal framework to coordinate the platoons with the objective to minimize travel delay and fuel consumption of every platoon crossing the intersection. In the upper-level, each platoon derives an optimal schedule to enter the intersection. In the low-level, the platoons derive their optimal control input (acceleration/deceleration) for the optimal schedule derived in the upper-level. We validate the effectiveness of the proposed framework in simulation and show significant improvements both in travel delay and fuel consumption compared to the baseline scenario with fixed time traffic signals at the intersection.