AN AUTOMATED HIGHWAY SYSTEM LINK LAYER CONTROLLER FOR TRAFFIC FLOW STABILIZATION

Controls for the link layer in the Automated Highway System (AHS) hier archy proposed in the Partners for Advanced Transit and Highways (PATH ) are developed. The link layer is modeled using vehicle conservation Bow models. Desired traffic conditions on the highway are given by a p air of density and velocity profiles which are assumed to be consisten t with the demand on, and the capability of, the highway system. The l ink layer control laws presented in this paper then stabilize the actu al traffic condition to the desired values. Control laws are derived f or three highway topologies: a single lane highway, a highway with mul tiple discrete lanes and a two-dimensional highway with an arbitrary f low pattern. The control laws obtained for each of the topologies is d istributed and are suited for implementation in the lower levels of th e AHS control hierarchy. Simulation results are also presented. (C) 19 97 Elsevier Science Ltd.