VANET-enabled eco-friendly road characteristics-aware routing for vehicular traffic

There is growing awareness of the dangers of climate change caused by greenhouse gases. In the coming decades this could result in numerous disasters such as heat-waves, flooding and crop failures. A major contributor to the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions is the transport sector, particularly private vehicles. Traffic congestion involving private vehicles also causes a lot of wasted time and stress to commuters. At the same time new wireless technologies such as Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks (VANETs) are being developed which could allow vehicles to communicate with each other. These could enable a number of innovative schemes to reduce traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions. 1) EcoTrec is a VANET-based system which allows vehicles to exchange messages regarding traffic congestion and road conditions, such as roughness and gradient. Each vehicle uses the messages it has received to build a model of nearby roads and the traffic on them. The EcoTrec Algorithm then recommends the most fuel efficient route for the vehicles to follow. 2) Time-Ants is a swarm based algorithm that considers not only the amount of cars in the spatial domain but also the amoumt in the time domain. This allows the system to build a model of the traffic congestion throughout the day. As traffic patterns are broadly similar for weekdays this gives us a good idea of what traffic will be like allowing us to route the vehicles more efficiently using the Time-Ants Algorithm. 3) Electric Vehicle enhanced Dedicated Bus Lanes (E-DBL) proposes allowing electric vehicles onto the bus lanes. Such an approach could allow a reduction in traffic congestion on the regular lanes without greatly impeding the buses. It would also encourage uptake of electric vehicles. 4) A comprehensive survey of issues associated with communication centred traffic management systems was carried out

Multi-Agent Systems

This Special Issue ""Multi-Agent Systems"" gathers original research articles reporting results on the steadily growing area of agent-oriented computing and multi-agent systems technologies. After more than 20 years of academic research on multi-agent systems (MASs), in fact, agent-oriented models and technologies have been promoted as the most suitable candidates for the design and development of distributed and intelligent applications in complex and dynamic environments. With respect to both their quality and range, the papers in this Special Issue already represent a meaningful sample of the most recent advancements in the field of agent-oriented models and technologies. In particular, the 17 contributions cover agent-based modeling and simulation, situated multi-agent systems, socio-technical multi-agent systems, and semantic technologies applied to multi-agent systems. In fact, it is surprising to witness how such a limited portion of MAS research already highlights the most relevant usage of agent-based models and technologies, as well as their most appreciated characteristics. We are thus confident that the readers of Applied Sciences will be able to appreciate the growing role that MASs will play in the design and development of the next generation of complex intelligent systems. This Special Issue has been converted into a yearly series, for which a new call for papers is already available at the Applied Sciences journal’s website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci/special_issues/Multi-Agent_Systems_2019

Vehicle-to-Vehicle Inductive Charge Transfer Feasibility and Public Health Implications

There has been an increased push away from the traditional combustion-engine powered vehicle due to environmental, health, and political concerns. As a result, alternative methods of transportation such as electric vehicles (EVs) have gaining popularity in the market. However, the EVs are not penetrating the market as quickly as expected, due in part to a combination of range, charge anxiety, and their financial costs. EVs cannot travel far due to limited driving range and require longer charge times than combustion-engine powered vehicles to recharge. Coupled with a lacking infrastructure for charging, the feasibility of an all-electric transportation market is still not possible. We propose a novel system in which we study and characterize the feasibility of increasing the effective driving range of a battery electric vehicle by utilizing inductive charge transfer to create an ad-hoc charging network where vehicles can “share” charge with one another. The application of wireless charge transfer from vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) is the first of its kind and does not require any changes to current metropolitan infrastructures. Through the use of computer networking and communications algorithms, we analyze real-world commuter and taxi data to determine the potential effectiveness of such a system. We propose a participation and incentive mechanism to encourage participation in this network that enables the system to be functional.To illustrate proof of principle for V2V charging at traffic lights, we simulate a simplified model in which vehicles only exchange charge at traffic lights without coordination with other vehicles. Using a greedy heuristic, vehicles only exchange charge if they happen to meet another vehicle that has charge to share. The heuristic is greedy since decisions are made at each iteration with longer optimality not being considered. We are able to demonstrate an increase in effective driving range of EVs using these simplistic assumptions. In this thesis, we develop and quantify a complete simulation framework, which allows EVs to operate using charge sharing. We analyze data from the United States Department of Transportation, New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, and Regional New York City data sources to understand the cumulative driving distance distributions for passenger/commuter vehicles and taxicabs in large metropolitan areas such as New York City. We show that the driving distributions can best be represented as heavy-tail distribution functions with most commuter vehicles not requiring additional charge during a typical day’s usage of their vehicle as compared to taxicabs, which regularly travel more than 100 miles during a 12-hour shift. We develop and parameterize several variables for input into our simulation framework including driving distance, charge exchange heuristics, models for determining pricing of charge units, traffic density, and geographic location. The inclusion of these parameters helps to build a framework that can be utilized for any metropolitan area to determine the feasibility of EVs. We have performed extensive evaluation of our model using real data. Our current simulations indicate that we can increase the effective distance that an electric vehicle travels by a factor of at least 2.5. This increased driving range makes EVs a more feasible mode of transportation for fleet vehicles such as taxicabs that rely heavily on commuting long cumulative distances. We have identified areas for future improvement to add further parameters to make the model even more sensitive. Finally, we focus on the application of our charge sharing framework in a real-world application for utilizing this methodology for the New York City bus system. In partnership with the New York City MTA, we launched a feasibility study of converting the currently majority hybrid bus fleet into a complete electric bus fleet with charging available at bus stops during scheduled bus stops. Unlike the earlier charge sharing framework, this simulation focuses on discrete distances that are traveled by the bus before having an opportunity to charge at the next bus stop. In this scenario, a large source of variability is the amount of time that the bus is able to stop at a bus stop for charging since this is determined by the amount of time needed to successfully embark and disembark the passengers at the given bus stop. This particular variability impacts how much charge the bus is able to gain during any given stop. We conclude with a list of opportunities for future work in expanding the model with additional parameters and conclusions of our work. Further, we identify areas of further research that outline the potential positive and negative outcomes from a charge sharing system that can be extended to various other applications including micro-mobility applications such as electric scooters and bicycles

Geometric Constraint Based Range Free Localization Scheme For Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs)

Localization of the wireless sensor networks (WSNs) is an emerging area of research. The accurate localization is essential to support extended network lifetime, better covering, geographical routing, and congested free network. In this thesis, we proposed four distributed range-free localization schemes. The proposed schemes are based on the analytical geometry, where an arc is used as the geometric primitive shape. The simulation and experimental validation are performed to evaluate the performance of the proposed schemes. First, we have proposed a mobile beacon based range-free localization scheme (MBBRFLS). The proposed scheme resolved the two underlying problems of the constraint area based localization: (i) localization accuracy depends on the size of the constraint area, and (2) the localization using the constraint area averaging. In this scheme, the constraint area is used to derive the geometric property of an arc. The localization begins with an approximation of the arc parameters. Later, the approximated parameters are used to generate the chords. The perpendicular bisector of the chords estimate the candidate positions of the sensor node. The valid position of the sensor node is identified using the logarithmic path loss model. The performance of proposed scheme is compared with Ssu and Galstyan schemes. From the results, it is observed that the proposed scheme at varying DOI shows 20.7% and 11.6% less localization error than Ssu and Galstyan schemes respectively. Similarly, at the varying beacon broadcasting interval the proposed scheme shows 18.8% and 8.3% less localization error than Ssu and Galstyan schemes respectively. Besides, at the varying communication range, the proposed scheme shows 18% and 9.2% less localization error than Ssu and Galstyan schemes respectively. To further enhance the localization accuracy, we have proposed MBBRFLS using an optimized beacon points selection (OBPS). In MBBRFLS-OBPS, the optimized beacon points minimized the constraint area of the sensor node. Later, the reduced constraint area is used to differentiate the valid or invalid estimated positions of the sensor node. In this scheme, we have only considered the sagitta of a minor arc for generating the chords. Therefore, the complexity of geometric calculations in MBBRFLS-OBPS is lesser than MBBRFLS. For localization, the MBBRFLS-OBPS use the perpendicular bisector of the chords (corresponding to the sagitta of minor arc) and the approximated radius. The performance of the proposed MBBRFLS-OBPS is compared with Ssu, Galstyan, and Singh schemes. From the results, it is observed that the proposed scheme using CIRCLE, vii SPIRAL, HILBERT, and S-CURVE trajectories shows 74.68%, 78.3%, 73.9%, and 70.3% less localization error than Ssu, Galstyan, and Singh schemes respectively. Next, we have proposed MBBRFLS using an optimized residence area formation (ORAF). The proposed MBBRFLS-ORAF further improves the localization accuracy. In this scheme, we have used the adaptive mechanism corresponding to the different size of the constraint area. The adaptive mechanism defines the number of random points required for the different size of the constraint area. In this scheme, we have improved the approximation accuracy of the arc parameters even at the larger size of the constraint area. Therefore, the localization accuracy is improved. The previous scheme MBBRFLS-OBPS use the residence area of the two beacon points for approximation. Therefore, the larger size of the constraint area degrades the approximation accuracy. In the MBBRFLS-ORAF, we have considered the residence area of the three non-collinear beacon points, which further improves the localization accuracy. The performance of the proposed scheme is compared with Ssu, Lee, Xiao, and Singh schemes. From the results, it is observed that the proposed MBBRFLS-ORAF at varying communication range shows 73.2%, 48.7%, 33.2%, and 20.7% less localization error than Ssu, Lee, Xiao, and Singh schemes respectively. Similarly, at the different beacon broadcasting intervals the proposed MBBRFLS-ORAF shows 75%, 53%, 38%, and 25% less localization error than Ssu, Lee, Xiao, and Singh schemes respectively. Besides, at the varying DOI the proposed MBBRFLS-ORAF shows 76.3%, 56.8%, 52%, and 35% less localization error than Ssu, Lee, Xiao, and Singh schemes respectively. Finally, we have proposed a localization scheme for unpredictable radio environment (LSURE). In this work, we have focused on the radio propagation irregularity and its impact on the localization accuracy. The most of the geometric constraint-based localization schemes suffer from the radio propagation irregularity. To demonstrate its impact, we have designed an experimental testbed for the real indoor environment. In the experimental testbed, the three static anchor nodes assist a sensor node to perform its localization. The impact of radio propagation irregularity is represented on the constraint areas of the sensor node. The communication range (estimated distance) of the anchor node is derived using the logarithmic regression model of RSSI-distance relationship. The additional error in the estimated distances, and the different placement of the anchor nodes generates the different size of the constraint areas. To improve the localization accuracy, we have used the dynamic circle expansion technique. The performance of the proposed LSURE is compared with APIT and Weighted Centroid schemes using the various deployment scenarios of the anchor nodes. From the results, it is observed that the proposed LSURE at different deployment scenarios of anchor nodes shows 65.94% and 73.54% less localization error than APIT and Weighted Centroid schemes

Efficiency and Sustainability of the Distributed Renewable Hybrid Power Systems Based on the Energy Internet, Blockchain Technology and Smart Contracts

The climate changes that are visible today are a challenge for the global research community. In this context, renewable energy sources, fuel cell systems, and other energy generating sources must be optimally combined and connected to the grid system using advanced energy transaction methods. As this book presents the latest solutions in the implementation of fuel cell and renewable energy in mobile and stationary applications such as hybrid and microgrid power systems based on energy internet, blockchain technology, and smart contracts, we hope that they are of interest to readers working in the related fields mentioned above

The future of the urban street in the united states: visions of alternative mobilities in the twenty-first century

This dissertation is concerned with the present and future of urban streets in the United States. The goal is to document and analyze current visions, policies, and strategies related to the form and use of American urban streets. The dissertation examines current mobility trends and offers a framework for organizing visions of the future of urban streets, evaluating them through three lenses: safety, comfort, and delight: assessing physical conditions in accordance with livability standards toward sustainable development. At the same time, it demonstrates the way 12 scenarios (NACTO Blueprint for Autonomous Urbanism, Sidewalk Labs: Quayside Project, Public Square by FXCollaborative, AIANY Future Street, The National Complete Street Coalition, Vision Zero, Smart Columbus, Waymo by Alphabet, The Hyperloop, Tesla “Autopilot,” Ford City of Tomorrow, SOM City of Tomorrow) have intentionally or unintentionally influenced contemporary use of American urban streets. Ultimately, the study shows that while sustainable alternative mobilities continue to emerge, the dominance of the automobility system has led to a stagnation of sustainable urban street development in the United States

Proceedings of the Fifth International Mobile Satellite Conference 1997

Satellite-based mobile communications systems provide voice and data communications to users over a vast geographic area. The users may communicate via mobile or hand-held terminals, which may also provide access to terrestrial communications services. While previous International Mobile Satellite Conferences have concentrated on technical advances and the increasing worldwide commercial activities, this conference focuses on the next generation of mobile satellite services. The approximately 80 papers included here cover sessions in the following areas: networking and protocols; code division multiple access technologies; demand, economics and technology issues; current and planned systems; propagation; terminal technology; modulation and coding advances; spacecraft technology; advanced systems; and applications and experiments