Citation

Liu Y. Transp. Traffic Theory 2007; 17: 607-632.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Publisher varies)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper evaluates the impacts of information delay on automated vehicle control and explores the possibility of mitigating such impacts by considering information from multiple downstream vehicles in the vehicle control decision process. This evaluation is done through the use of a microscopic traffic simulation model that has been specifically developed to enable the simulation of information delays that may occur with Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) applications using onboard vehicle sensors or wireless communications. The impacts of communication delays are assessed through vehicle responses to simulated traffic events in three car-following scenarios: single-file platoon accelerating from standstill, vehicles responding to a slowdown by the platoon’s lead vehicle, and vehicle responding to the sudden immobilization of the platoon’s lead vehicle. These scenarios are first applied to situations in which only information about the vehicle immediately ahead is available, and then, to situations in which information is obtained from a specific number of lead vehicles. The simulation results reported in this paper clearly demonstrate that information delay has a negative impact on vehicle control, particularly when information from only one lead vehicle is considered. The results further show that improved vehicle control and reduced sensitivity to delay can be achieved by developing control systems considering information from at least two lead vehicles.