Advanced Vehicle Command and Control System (AVCCS)

This paper explores the research under way in developing an autonomous vehicle command and control system; it also explains the means by which guidance is maintained and in‐yehicle navigation system are integrated into the vehicle control system. This system integration feature allows the vehicle to operate in a mixture of both automatic and manually controlled vehicles. The unique features investigated in this research include the relationship between the on‐board control system and other nonautomated automobiles; the efficiency and usefulness of the new navigation concept; and the system approach to interactive linking of the in‐vehicle control system with three transportation modes: (1) Other automated vehicles; (2) other nonautomated vehicles; and (3) the public street and/or freeway control system. Further discussed, in system descriptive terms, is the actual in‐vehicle control system, in‐pavement transponders, a flux gate compass, an automatic vehicle location reader, and lateral/longitudinal radar proximity devices. The text also illustrates the logic of the on‐board control system including the development of the various signal conditioning devices and local slave computer systems required to drive the main management/navigational computer system.