1. ENabling SafE Multi-Brand Platooning for Europe
Marika Hoedemaeker, The Netherlands

2. ENSEMBLE facts Innovation Action no. 769115
3 year EU project, started June 1st 2018
20 million euro funding EC
20 partners, including 6 truck manufacturers and CLEPA representing automotive suppliers

3. Objectives of the 3 year project
To pave the way for the adoption of multi-brand truck platooning in Europe
To align and work on standardization
To demonstrate differently branded trucks in one platoon
Under real world traffic conditions
Across national borders.
To assess impacts on traffic safety,
throughput and fuel economy.
And in this way ensure acceptance and deployment of platooning

4. Project structure
WP2 This work package will define the specification for the whole multi-brand truck platooning concept.
Outputs of WP2 are the common specification of the Strategic, Tactical and Operational Layers
WP3  This work package implements the requirements specifications of work package 2 into demonstrator trucks .
The implementations will be verified in WP5 against the specifications and requirements given in WP2.
WP4  performs the impact assessment of multi-brand platooning on road infrastructure, environment, other road users and logistics. It also contains the development of cooperative ITS functionality, for logistic automation, including forming and dissolution of platoons .
WP5  The objective of WP5 is the testing, validation and demonstration of the multi-brand platoon implementation in the ENSEMBLE project In this work package all testing is comprised, from integration testing until the final demonstration.
WP6 This WP concerns the exploitation and dissemination of the project. Here, the communication of the project results and the interaction with standardization bodies, road approval authorities, and fleet owners are the main focus.

5. Platooning layers
The service layer represents the platform on which logistical operations and new initiatives can operate.
The strategic layer is responsible for the high-level decision-making regarding the scheduling of platoons based on vehicle compatibility and Platooning Level (see below), optimisation with respect to fuel consumption, travel times, destination, and impact on highway traffic flow and infrastructure, employing cooperative ITS cloud-based solutions. In addition, the routing of vehicles to allow for platoon forming is included in this layer.
The tactical layer coordinates the actual platoon forming (both from the tail of the platoon and through merging in the platoon) and platoon dissolution. In addition, this layer ensures platoon cohesion on hilly roads, and sets the desired platoon velocity, inter-vehicle distances (e.g. to prevent damaging bridges and e.g. lateral offsets to mitigate road wear).
The operational layer involves the vehicle actuator control (e.g. accelerating/braking, steering), the execution of the aforementioned manoeuvres, and the control of the individual vehicles in the platoon to automatically perform the platooning task. Here, the main control task is to regulate the inter-vehicle distance or velocity and, depending on the Platooning Level, the lateral position relative to the lane or to the preceding vehicle. Key performance requirements for this layer are vehicle-following behaviour and (longitudinal and lateral) string stability of the platoon, where the latter is a necessary requirement to achieve a stable traffic flow and to achieve scalability with respect to platoon length, and the short-range wireless inter-vehicle communication is the key enabling technology.

6. WP2 Specification of a generic solution
Objective:
Definition of the specifications of the layers and their interfaces to be implemented within the testing and demonstration trucks of the 6 OEMs
Iteration process to validate and modify the specification during the whole project life-cycle is an essential part of the work
Important input for standardisation

7. WP3 Platooning Technology
Design and implementation of a platooning system according to the specifications of WP2
Develop the common functionality that is required for multi-brand platooning:
platoon coordinator functionality
mechanism to check consistency of the messages
functionality to guarantee safe behaviour of the platoon
At least Platooning Level A is implemented, meaning a.o. that only longitudinal automation will be implemented.
The implementations will be verified in WP5 against the specifications and requirements given in WP2

8. WP4 Impacts of multibrand platooning
Assessment of the impact of multi-brand platooning on:
Road infrastructure (pavement, bridges, tunnels)
Economic and environmental benefits,
Truck drivers & other road users
Traffic conditions and traffic flow
Assessment of the variability of these impacts: Variability in loads and dimensions Formation of platoons on the fly

9. WP5 Testing and Demonstration
Definition of methodology and test plan; incl. data acquisition plan and KPI’s
Validation of the generic solution via physical tests on test tracks
Multi-brand platooning testing on public roads
Technical evaluation of the generic multi-brand platooning solution
Demonstration of the multi-brand platoon solution on public roads

10. WP6 Communication and exploitation
Interaction with stakeholders
Actively contribute to standardization activities
Communicate and raise awareness about the ENSEMBLE project to Public and Private stakeholders
Involve relevant public stakeholders for allowing truck platooning testing on public roads across borders
Encourage and facilitate the exploitation of ENSEMBLE results in Europe and beyond
Demonstrate the potential of truck platooning technologies to create new business opportunities
Network and exchange experiences with related national pilots and other similar initiatives

11. Main dates 2018 2019 2020 2021 Multibrand platooning test tracks
Apr:
Definition of specifications
Jan:
Communication functions & SW ready for implementation
Aug:
Impact: results on business model and market needs
Nov:
Impact: effects of platoons on infrastructure
Feb:
Kick off meeting
Jun:
Final event
May:
2018
2019
2020
2021

12. Multi-brand platooning becomes a reality in Europe
Spring
2021
Multi-brand platooning
becomes a reality in Europe

13. Thank you for your attention
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement
Thank you for your attention