The problem of precise longitudinal control of vehicles so that they follow predetermined time-varying speeds and positions has been solved. To control vehicles to the required closed headway of at least 0.5 sec, the control philosophy is different from but on less rigorous than that of railroad practice. The preferred control strategy is one that could be called an "asynchrnous point follower." Such a strategy requires no clock synchronization, is flexible in all unusual conditions, permits the maximum possible throughout, requires a minimum of maneuvering and uses a minimum of software.
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