Connected automated vehicle highway systems and methods

A transportation management system that provides full vehicle operations and control for connected and automated vehicle and highway systems by sending individual vehicles with detailed and time-sensitive control instructions for vehicle following, lane changing, route guidance, and related information, said transportation management system comprising:

• a) a hierarchy of traffic control centers/traffic control units (TCCs/TCUs) that process information and give traffic operations instructions, wherein said TCCs and TCUs are automatic or semi-automated computational modules that focus on data gathering, information processing, network optimization, and traffic control;
• b) a network of roadside units (RSUs) that receive data flow from connected vehicles, detect traffic conditions, and send targeted instructions to vehicles, wherein said RSU network focuses on data sensing, data processing, control signal delivery, and information distribution, and wherein an RSU of the RSU network can be combined or integrated with a TCU;
• c) a vehicle sub-system, comprising a mixed traffic flow of vehicles at different levels of connectivity and automation;
• and
• d) communications systems that provide wired and wireless communication services to all the entities in the transportation management system,
• wherein said RSUs comprise:
• a) a sensing module that gathers traffic and related information;
• b) a data processing module that provides vehicle-specific measurements,
• c) a communication module that sends and receives information between vehicles and a point TCU;
• d) a communication module that sends vehicle-specific driving instructions to vehicles;
• e) an interface module that shows data that is sent to an OBU system;
• and
• f) a power supply unit.

A transportation management system that provides full vehicle operations and control for connected and automated vehicle and highway systems by sending individual vehicles with detailed and time-sensitive control instructions for vehicle following, lane changing, route guidance, and related information, said transportation management system comprising:

• a) a hierarchy of traffic control centers/traffic control units (TCCs/TCUs) that process information and give traffic operations instructions, wherein said TCCs and TCUs are automatic or semi-automated computational modules that focus on data gathering, information processing, network optimization, and traffic control;
• b) a network of roadside units (RSUs) that receive data flow from connected vehicles, detect traffic conditions, and send targeted instructions to vehicles, wherein said RSU network focuses on data sensing, data processing, control signal delivery, and information distribution, and wherein an RSU of the RSU network can be combined or integrated with a TCU;
• c) a vehicle sub-system, comprising a mixed traffic flow of vehicles at different levels of connectivity and automation;
• and
• d) communications systems that provide wired and wireless communication services to all the entities in the transportation management system,
• wherein said transportation management system is configured to redistribute essential vehicle driving tasks among vehicles to:
• a) provide navigation instructions to vehicles;
• b) provide guidance instructions and information to maintain safety, provide traffic control/road condition information, and provide special information;
• c) fulfill vehicle maneuver tasks and monitor safety maintenance tasks if one or more components of the transportation management system fails;
• d) provide data feeds for information exchange tasks at the control level to supplement and/or replace information provided by the vehicle sensors in a vehicle;
• e) fulfill vehicle control tasks at the mechanical level, monitor surroundings, and stand-by as a backup system;
• provide vehicles with driving-critical information;
• and
• g) fulfill driving tasks;
• and
• h) use vehicles to provide backup functions to vehicles having errors or failures.