SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED MERGING

A system and method for controlling a merge vehicle travelling along a highway having a merge lane and a main lane. The method includes receiving merge data about the merge vehicle and a surrounding environment of the merge vehicle. The method includes detecting an intent to perform a merge maneuver by the merge vehicle from the merge lane to the main lane based on the merge data. Further, the method includes generating a graph having a plurality of nodes connected by edges. The plurality of nodes includes a start node set to a current position of the merge vehicle and a goal node located in the main lane after the merge lane has ended. The method includes calculating a three-dimensional (3D) trajectory based on the graph by optimizing edge costs from the start node to the goal node, and controlling the merge vehicle based on the 3D trajectory.