Autonomous transit vehicle operation system for adverse weather and long-tail scenarios

A transit operations system for operating a connected and automated transit vehicle (CATV), said transit operations system comprising an onboard unit (OBU) provided in a CATV and said OBU comprising:

• a communication module communicating with one or more of:
• (a) other vehicles, (b) roadside units (RSUs), (c) a cloud-based platform, or (d) a traffic control center or traffic control unit (TCC/TCU);
• a sensing module monitoring the surroundings of the CATV;
• a data collection module configured to collect data from the CATV and to monitor the status of the CATV, passengers, and drivers;
• and
• a vehicle control module configured to execute control instructions,
• wherein:
• said OBU receives site specific weather information using said communication module;
• said transit operations system is configured to perform a transportation behavior prediction and management method at a microscopic and mesoscopic level, wherein said mesoscopic transportation behavior prediction and management method comprises providing a weather forecast and managing the CATV speed and said microscopic transportation behavior prediction and management method comprises managing longitudinal and lateral control of said CATV;
• and
• said transit operations system is configured to provide safety and efficiency measures for vehicle operations and control under adverse weather conditions, and wherein the safety and efficiency measures for vehicle operations and control comprise a location service provided by a roadside unit (RSU) and site-specific road weather and pavement condition information service provided by the RSU.

A transit operations system for operating a connected and automated transit vehicle (CATV), said transit operations system comprising an onboard unit (OBU) provided in a CATV and said OBU comprising:

• a communication module communicating with one or more of:
• (a) other vehicles, (b) roadside units (RSUs), (c) a cloud-based platform, or (d) a traffic control center or traffic control unit (TCC/TCU);
• a sensing module monitoring the surroundings of the CATV;
• a data collection module configured to collect data from the CATV and to monitor the status of the CATV, passengers, and drivers;
• and
• a vehicle control module configured to execute control instructions,
• wherein:
• said OBU receives site specific weather information using said communication module;
• said transit operations system is configured to perform a transportation behavior prediction and management method at a microscopic and mesoscopic level, wherein said mesoscopic transportation behavior prediction and management method comprises providing a weather forecast and managing the CATV speed and said microscopic transportation behavior prediction and management method comprises managing longitudinal and lateral control of the CATV;
• and
• said transit operations system is configured to perform a special sensing method at an intersection, said special sensing method comprising monitoring pedestrians and vehicles.

A transit operations system configured to provide integrated operations and controls for a connected and automated transit vehicle (CATV), said transit operations system configured to provide safety and efficiency measures for vehicle operations and control under adverse weather conditions, wherein said safety and efficiency measures comprise:

• a) a location service provided by a roadside unit (RSU);
• b) a site-specific road weather and pavement condition information service provided by RSUs supported by a traffic control center/traffic control unit (TCC/TCU) network and a cloud service;
• c) a CATV control service for adverse weather conditions;
• and
• d) a transit vehicle routing and schedule service supported by site-specific road weather information.