Application of Vehicle Ad-hoc Networks in Traffic Control Systems

摘要

Mobile ad hoc networks find use in a variety of areas which include rescue missions, battlefields and recently in inter-vehicular networks, generally known as Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs). A lot of research has been done on the use of VANETs in traffic safety in road networks. This paper proposes a model for use of VANETs in an advanced traffic signal control system within a simulation environment. The idea is to use vehicular ad-hoc networking to reduce the average delay per person at road intersections, with the intent to reduce the average travelling time per person. The control system is designed with a generic and flexible logic that allows it to simulate a wide range of traffic signal control types and strategies. The strategies include mechanisms for deadlock and starvation avoidance at intersections. The control system is also designed as a distributed control system in which vehicles participate in a leader election process. This is a bid or a contest to gain or win the right of way for the vehicles for which the leader is in the same road segment which gets the green light. Specialized features of advanced control strategies are implemented within the control system framework which allows the implementation of transit signal priority and other specialized vehicles that might require prioritization within the simulation environment, allowing the simulation of both passive and active signal priority strategies. The capabilities of the control system are illustrated through a case study in which a simulation is done for a four way intersection and the results of the simulation studied with respect to the objectives of the prioritization strategies. An evaluation of the currently implemented system is performed.