The high probability that Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) affects traffic flow by intervening in the driving process motivated traffic research. The latest study involved the actual ICC controller software in the traffic flow simulator AS (Autobahn Simulator). Traffic was simulated for four actual sections of the German motorway (Autobahn) network, each of them with three traffic volumes. The variation of the rate of equipped vehicles gave the effects of ICC. The results of traffic and system evaluation showed increased comfort and safety for equipped vehicles while overall traffic flow was hardly affected at least for less than or equal to 10% equipped vehicles. (A)
Abstract