Control apparatus and method for improving fuel efficiency in CACC system

A method for controlling a driving speed of a subject vehicle, the method comprising:

• receiving vehicle information from neighboring vehicles;
• collecting vehicle information of a forward vehicle and vehicle information of the subject vehicle;
• selecting a target vehicle to be followed by the subject vehicle based on the vehicle information of the neighboring vehicles and the vehicle information of the forward vehicle;
• controlling the driving speed of the subject vehicle based on a target speed of the subject vehicle if the target vehicle to be followed by the subject vehicle is not selected;
• and
• controlling the driving speed of the subject vehicle based on the vehicle information of the target vehicle and the vehicle information of the subject vehicle if the target vehicle is selected,
• wherein the vehicle information is received from neighboring vehicles in a region of interest, and
• wherein the region of interest for the neighboring vehicle has lengths in directions of left, right, front and rear on the basis of the subject vehicle.

A cooperative adaptive cruise control (CACC) system of a subject vehicle to control a driving speed of the subject vehicle, the CACC system comprising:

• a communication unit configured to receive vehicle information from neighboring vehicles;
• an information collection unit configured to collect vehicle information of a forward vehicle and vehicle information of the subject vehicle;
• and
• a controller configured to select a target vehicle to be followed by the subject vehicle based on the vehicle information of the neighboring vehicles and the vehicle information of the forward vehicle, to control the driving speed of the subject vehicle based on a target speed of the subject vehicle if the target vehicle to be followed by the subject vehicle is not selected, and to control the driving speed of the subject vehicle based on the vehicle information of the target vehicle and the vehicle information of the subject vehicle if the target vehicle is selected,
• wherein the controller is configured to further select potential vehicles of interest (PVOI) in communication with the subject vehicle based on the vehicle information of the neighboring vehicles, wherein the PVOI is a vehicle that exert an influence on the speed control of the subject vehicle.