All systems proposed for automatically controlling vehicular traffic assume that appropriate electrical signals can be use to control cars much as radio signals are used to remotely fly airplanes. Because of safety considerations, the development of reliable devices to convert such signals into properly responsive steering, braking, and speed control movements is of paramount importance. Efforts in this area have produced servomechanism (automatic control) circuits capable of being integrated into a variety of automatic highway systems. The most recent GMR design incorporates a new concept of car spacing control, and has been used in experimental studies run on an electronic test track installation developed by the RCA Laboratories, Princeton, New Jersey. Like its predecessors the present system was developed primarily to give engineers a firsthand, realistic look at the problems involved. It is also hoped that it will stimulate interest among highway and automotive research people.
Abstract