An agent-based simulation model for truck platoon matching

This paper presents a flexible agent-based simulation (ABS) model to serve as a matchmaking system for trucks such that they can form a platoon. A platoon is a formation of trucks which drive closely behind each other in a (semi)autonomous fashion. We focus on an agent-based system which seeks platoon candidates in the proximity of a truck and tries to find a match based on several properties of the trucks. The ABS does so in a dynamic fashion based on real-time (geo)data. Opposed to centralized systems, the matchmaking is done locally among trucks(agents). Due to the spontaneous nature of this matching type, we denote this type of platoon matching as real-time matching. We illustrate the ABS using a case study at a truck stop near the Port of Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The ABS model serves as a testbed for matching algorithms and to study enabling factors for truck platooning.