An improved car-following model with consideration of the lateral effect and its feedback control research * Zheng Ya-Zhou(郑亚周) a) , Zheng Peng-Jun(郑彭军) b) , and Ge Hong-Xia(葛红霞) b) † a

Based upon the classical car‐following theory, an extended car‐following model considering variable safety distance (VSD) and time‐delay effect is constructed to improve driving efficiency and safety. Considering multiple preceding cars' speed differences and the difference between headway and safety distance, a new control signal is designed from the viewpoint of multiple information feedback control strategy. Stability criterion for the modified model is acquired by applying control theory. Several numerical simulations are used to show the effects of multiple preceding cars' speed changes and variable safety distance on car‐following phenomena, and the outcomes prove that the presented model can enhance traffic safety and suppress traffic jams.

Based on the pioneering study of Bando et al., a modified car-following model is proposed to suppress traffic jams. The optimal velocity (OV) function is extended by introducing variable safety distance. Considering the relative velocity, relative optimal velocity, and the difference between safety distance and headway, a comprehensive control scheme is constructed according to the feedback control theory. The stability condition for the improved model is obtained via the linear stability theory. Numerical simulation is carried out to illustrate the advantages of our model with the new control signal, and the results are in good accordance with the theoretical analysis.

To further investigate car-following behaviors in the cooperative adaptive cruise control (CACC) strategy, a comprehensive control system which can handle three traffic conditions to guarantee driving efficiency and safety is designed by using three CACC models. In this control system, some vital comprehensive information, such as multiple preceding cars' speed differences and headway, variable safety distance (VSD) and time-delay effect on the traffic current and the jamming transition have been investigated via analytical or numerical methods. Local and string stability criterion for the velocity control (VC) model and gap control (GC) model are derived via linear stability theory. Numerical simulations are conducted to study the performance of the simulated traffic flow. The simulation results show that the VC model and GC model can improve driving efficiency and suppress traffic congestion.

In this study, a modified car-following model is proposed to suppress the traffic jams. The optimal velocity (OV) function is extended by introducing variable safety headway distance. A comprehensive control scheme is constructed according to the feedback control theory. The stability condition for the modified model is obtained and the numerical simulation is carried out to illustrate the advantage of our model with the new control signal, and the results are consistent with the theoretical analysis.