Simulator and on-road testing of truck platooning: a systematic review

Abstract

The evolution of transport technologies, marked by integrating connectivity and automation, has led to innovative approaches such as truck platooning. This concept involves linking multiple trucks through automated driving and vehicle-to-vehicle communication, promising to revolutionize the freight industry by enhancing efficiency and reducing operational costs. This systematic review explores the current state of truck platooning testing literature, focusing on simulator and on-road tests. The objective is to identify key scenarios and requirements for successfully developing and implementing the truck platooning concept. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA) guidelines, we searched the Web of Science and Scopus databases, leading to the inclusion of thirty pertinent articles encompassing simulation-based, on-road, and mixed-environment experiments. In addition to the type of testing environment, these articles were assorted into three groups corresponding to their main thematic scope, human-centered, technology-centered, and energy efficiency studies, each providing unique insights into core themes for the development of truck platooning. The results reveal a commonly preferred platoon formation consisting of three trucks maintaining a constant speed of 80 km/h and a stable distance of 10 m between them. Simulator-based studies have predominantly concentrated on human factors, examining driver behavior and interaction within the platooning framework. In contrast, on-road trials have yielded tangible data, offering a more technology-driven perspective and contributing practical insights to the field. While the literature on truck platooning has grown considerably, this review recognizes some limitations in the existing literature and suggests paths for future research. Overall, this systematic review provides valuable insights to the ongoing development of robust and effective truck platooning systems.