Human-led truck platooning with lane-changing capability for more efficient logistics: a framework and implementation

Truck platooning promises to enhance the efficiency of logistics, but commercial operation is hampered by safety and economic concerns. Human-lead truck platooning can mitigate these challenges by leveraging a human driver's expertise. However, existing human-lead truck platooning is limited to longitudinal control and lacks the lane-changing capability, which restricts logistical efficiency. To address this, we build upon previous research to propose a human-lead truck platooning method with lane-changing capability. The platoon leader is controlled by a skilled human driver, who is responsible for leading the following automated trucks. The human-lead platoon is enabled to cruise, lane-change, and obstacle avoidance, leveraging the driver's expertise to mitigate safety risks in long-tail scenarios. Drivers of the following trucks are not needed, reducing labor costs. The proposed method has been implemented in commercial operations at the world's largest port, Shanghai Yangshan Port, achieving an annual transport volume of 200,000 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units. It highlights a route for large-scale truck platooning implementation, potentially reshaping freight-transport operations.