NGCM-32: Integrating automated vehicles into the transport network

Recent government investment in driver-less car trials (http://www.trl.co.uk/news-hub/transport-news/latest-transport-news/?id=801764918) is accelerating us towards a future of greater automation in the transport network. As a direct result of this investment, the Transportation Research Laboratory (TRL) (http://www.trl.co.uk/) and the Transportation Research Group (TRG) at the University of Southampton are offering this research project investigating how transportation infrastructure can sustainable support high numbers of automated vehicles in the network.

Existing transportation infrastructure is designed around non-automated vehicles. This includes not just the road-space but also the many thousands of traffic sensors, the control infrastructure (traffic lights, variable speed limits), the refuelling infrastructure and the integration between modes of transport (airports, train stations etc). This project will investigate strategies to redesign this infrastructure to support automated vehicles and deliver improvements in sustainability.

The candidate in this project will have access to facilities and training to enable them to explore the scenario of high numbers of vehicles in the transportation network using techniques including: computational modelling, experiments using the TRL’s vehicle simulator and experiments using TRG’s instrumented vehicle. The candidate will be able to benefit from extended placements at the Transportation Research Laboratory as well as access to GATEway research partners for case studies (http://www.trl.co.uk/news-hub/trl-press-releases/2014/december/greenwichs-digital-credentials-driven-home-after-trl-led-consortium-wins-%C2%A38m-trial-to-pilot-futuristic-automated-vehicles/).

The candidate will develop a broad understanding of both transportation infrastructure design/operation and vehicle automation. Ultimately the outcome of this research will be innovative new designs to transportation infrastructure – with a strong evidence base – that will support automated vehicles to maximize sustainability in the transport network.

Full funding is available to successful UK/EU students

If you would like to discuss this project further please contact Dr Simon Box, Transportation Research Group Email: [Email Address Removed], Tel: +44 (0)2380 59 2175

This project is run through participation in the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Next Generation Computational Modelling (http://ngcm.soton.ac.uk). For details of our 4 Year PhD programme, please see http://www.findaphd.com/search/PhDDetails.aspx?CAID=331&LID=2652

For a details of available projects click here http://www.ngcm.soton.ac.uk/projects/index.html

Visit our Postgraduate Research Opportunities Afternoon to find out more about Postgraduate Research study within the Faculty of Engineering and the Environment: http://www.southampton.ac.uk/engineering/news/events/2016/02/03-discover-your-future.page