Field implementation and testing of an automated eco-cooperative adaptive cruise control system in the vicinity of signalized intersections

This paper field implements and conducts a unique controlled field experiment designed to evaluate an Eco-Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control (Eco-CACC) system that computes fuel-efficient trajectories that are either recommended to drivers or implemented within a traditional ACC system. The controlled field experiment included three different scenarios: normal driving, driving with a speed advisory (manual Eco-CACC system), and automated Eco-CACC. The controlled field experiment was conducted for four red indication offset values (with two repetitions for each offset) randomly delivered to drivers traveling along an uphill and downhill approach on the Smart Road test facility. In total, 1536 trips were conducted by 32 different participants between the ages of 18 and 30 with an equal number of males and females. The collected data were compared with regard to fuel economy and travel time over a fixed distance starting upstream and ending downstream of the intersection (from 820 feet [250 m] upstream of the intersection to 590 feet [180 m] downstream for a total length of 1410 feet [430 m]). The results demonstrate that the proposed Eco-CACC system reduces fuel consumption levels significantly, especially when driving downhill. Specifically, the results indicate that the automated scenario could achieve fuel and travel time savings of 31% and 9% on average, respectively. These results also demonstrate that automatic longitudinal control produces significant benefits over human control (an approximately19% reduction in fuel consumption).