Dynamic traffic-aware auction-based signal control under vehicle to infrastructure communication

Abstract

The advent of connected vehicle technology brings forth a new set of possibilities for more efficient traffic control. Indeed, the ability to consider driver-specific attributes, such as value of time or willingness to pay, in intersection management through advanced communication protocols allows for reducing individual delay costs. In this context, this study presents an auction-based approach for signalized intersection control under a connected vehicle setting. A second-price sealed-bid auction is employed to assign green time to conflicting movements, while driver bids and bidding distance per lane vary based on delay accumulation. The proposed auction-based control is evaluated using various demand levels and flow patterns and compared against pre-timed signal control. Results show that the proposed mechanism may be a promising alternative for several flow patterns, achieving lower average delays while maintaining fairness.