Lane Change/Merge Fundamental Research: Phase 1

programmed

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is developing concepts for using automated longitudinal control in several projects that explore the potential to improve mobility and safety. But while most research has explored automated longitudinal control in simple highway driving scenarios only, deployment will necessarily require that other traffic movements, such as lane changes, weaves, merges, and demerges, will be enabled. In addition, new operational concepts and technologies, e.g. driver lateral control while longitudinal control is automated, are necessary in order for mobility and safety benefits to be realized. The purpose of this project is to initiate foundational experimental research, based upon enabling technologies for automated operation and vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication, in the area of lane change and merging.