Abstract
A major challenge for traffic signal control is adapting to unpredictable changes in traffic. To address this issue, we propose an autonomous decentralized control scheme for traffic signals that is based on physics. More specifically, “virtual impulses” given by red signals or preceding cars, which are defined in a similar manner as the impulses generally used in physics, are calculated at each traffic signal by using an optimal velocity model, and traffic signals are switched to reduce these virtual impulses. We performed simulations under various traffic conditions, and the results showed that the proposed control scheme works adaptively and resiliently in response to each set of circumstances. Thus, the virtual impulse can be a key physical quantity for designing adaptive traffic systems.
Highlights
Traffic systems are indispensable both in industries and our daily lives
If the virtual impulse for case (i) I(i) is the smallest among all cases, the future prediction suggests that the traffic signal should switch at present
We developed a decentralized control scheme for traffic signals that can adapt to changes in the amount of traffic
Summary
Traffic systems are indispensable both in industries and our daily lives. Owing to the recent increase in the number of cars, traffic jams often occur in urban areas. The traffic signal control consists of four steps: (1) detection of the car position and velocity, (2) future prediction for car motion, (3) calculation of the virtual impulse, and (4) evaluation of signal switching. These steps are repeated every time interval ta at each traffic signal. Once the present position and velocity of cars are detected at each traffic signal in step 1, their motion in the near future can be predicted by numerically solving the optimal velocity model. The virtual impulse is calculated for each condition, i.e., conditions (i)–(iii) in step 2, and the virtual impulse for condition X is denoted by IX
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