SUMMARY

The EcoCAR Mobility Challenge is a 4-year competition that is a part of the Advanced Vehicle Technology Competition (AVTC) series. In this competition, teams are challenged to convert a 2019 Chevrolet Blazer into a hybrid vehicle, implement an SAE Level II Autonomous feature (Adaptive Cruise Control), implement Vehicle-To-Everything (V2X) communication between the vehicle and connected intersections, and produce a 99% market-ready vehicle.

A key challenge in this competition involves implementing V2X communication on the vehicle, a form of connected technology that allows a vehicle to communicate to other vehicles, pedestrians, and the surrounding infrastructure. Connected technology such as these are not yet pervasive in public infrastructure throughout the US but steps are being taken to improve its presence such as through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.

A Connected Urban Corridor is a series of intersections that can broadcast signal phase and timing (SPaT) via Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC). This thesis aims to explore how leveraging this type of communication can be used to improve energy efficiency, driver comfort and safety along Connected Urban Corridors. By running simulations in Simulink and gathering real world data along such a corridor, this thesis details the development an efficient algorithm for navigating connected corridors while exploring its impact on energy efficiency, drive quality and driver comfort.