EU ENSEMBLE Project: Specification of an Interoperable Solution for a Support Function for Platooning

Truck platooning is the linking of two or more trucks in convoy, using connectivity technology and automated driving support systems. For the wide deployment of platooning, multi-brand, i.e. interoperable, solutions are paramount. To achieve this, the European ENSEMBLE (ENabling SafE Multi-Brand pLatooning for Europe) project has been conducted. In this project, amongst others, all European truck manufacturers worked together to define harmonized multi-brand specifications for two different levels of platooning: a Platooning Support Function (PSF) and a Platooning Autonomous Function (PAF). The PSF aims towards fast deployment, whereas the PAF gives an outlook on the future of platooning when more advanced automated driving technologies become available. This paper describes the definition and specifications for the first level of platooning, the Platooning Support Function. It comprises a set of use cases, specifications and requirements for the common functionality. Part of the specifications is an interaction protocol, which also encompasses a security framework. To verify the definitions and to expedite standardization, all truck manufacturers implemented the PSF and this was tested in several multi-brand settings to conclude that the specifications result in technically feasible solutions.