Kakao Mobility Demonstrates 'Platooning' Platform for Autonomous Truck Driving Technology

[Asia Economy Reporter Buaeri] Kakao Mobility demonstrated its next-generation autonomous driving technology called 'platooning' on the 27th.

'Platooning' refers to multiple large freight trucks traveling in a group using autonomous cooperative driving technology. Other vehicles join and communicate through a platform centered on the lead vehicle responsible for driving, enabling autonomous movement.

The following vehicles operate at a 'Level 3' autonomous driving standard. By traveling in formation, air resistance is reduced, improving vehicle fuel efficiency, and it is a technology attracting attention for reducing driver fatigue and lowering accident risks.

Kakao Mobility demonstrated the operational service platform technology for large freight truck platooning as part of the national project research verification titled 'Development of V2X-based Freight Truck Platooning Operation Technology,' led by the Korea Expressway Corporation.

Kakao Mobility's platooning operation service platform showcased the entire 'platooning' process through a demonstration on a public road section from Seoyeoju IC to Yeoju JCT, including ▲platoon request ▲route guidance ▲platoon joining ▲formation maintenance ▲automatic spacing adjustment when general vehicles enter the formation ▲platoon departure.

The Korea Expressway Corporation has been leading the national project 'Development of V2X (Vehicle to Everything communication)-based Freight Truck Platooning Operation Technology' since 2018 with support from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to secure platooning technology.

Kakao Mobility was responsible for developing the 'operation service platform' where platooning-related technologies can operate and for establishing a 'logistics transportation service model' for technology commercialization.

For this project, Kakao Mobility separately developed a tablet mobile app platform containing features such as navigation specialized for platooning vehicle drivers, user interaction providing various information generated during driving, and 'See-Through,' which transmits road video from the lead vehicle's perspective.

The platooning operation service platform consists of a 'matching algorithm' that identifies the movement path of platooning vehicles and connects vehicles joining the platoon formation, a 'routing algorithm' that predicts real-time traffic conditions and suggests vehicle joining and departure points while guiding routes, and a 'control module' that manages the location, platoon status, and vehicle conditions of connected vehicles on the platform. Technologies applied in KakaoT, such as taxi AI dispatch and navigation guidance, were utilized.

Dr. Jeon Sang-hoon of Kakao Mobility's Intelligence Division stated, "We will further advance platooning technology and contribute to the commercialization of autonomous driving technology in various fields, including logistics."