A proposed longitudinal automatic system for controlling an individual vehicle in a traffic stream in response to the immediately preceding vehicle is described. The automatic control of individual highway vehicles should considerably improve high-density traffic flow. A short description is included of the traffic situation variables, the requirements on the system, a description of the system itself, and a discussion of the performance of the system. Linear and nonlinear modes of control were combined. The system was analyzed in the car-following situation in single lane traffic with up to three cars in a line. More extensive evaluation for many cars in a platoon and for comparison with the present manual system has not been completed. However, the results of present analysis indicate that good performance can be expected.
Abstract