Research on Desirable Adaptive Cruise Control Behavior in Traffic Streams. First Phase Final Report

摘要

This document report on methods for characterizing the longitudinal performance of vehicles equipped with adaptive cruise control (ACC) systems. The current partners in the program are Nissan Motor Company, Limited, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, DaimlerChrysler AG, University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI). The objectives for the work are to: (1) identify ACC-system characteristics that influence traffic flow, (2) evaluate the performance of ACC systems in strings of vehicles, and (3) develop a basis for further research, possibly leading to industry procedures applicable to ACC products. Based upon these objectives, UMTRI in cooperation with the manufacturer has: tested three vehicles (one supplied by each manufacturer) in pertinent leader-follower situations, performed system-identification methods to derive the characteristics of these ACC systems, simulated and analyzed the performance of representative ACC systems, and modeled and simulated traffic flow as influenced by various proportions of manually-driven and ACC-driven vehicles. The following items are described in this report: (1) special test methods developed for measuring the characteristics of ACC-equipped vehicles, (2) system-identification procedures used to evaluate the pertinent characteristics of ACC-systems, and (3) models used to represent manual (non-ACC) driving and procedures used to examine traffic flow. The results and findings of the work support the following conclusions: (1) the test and analysis procedures developed here are suitable for characterizing ACC systems, (2) the characteristics of ACC systems may have large influences on string behavior and traffic flow, and (3) the characterization and microscopic modeling of manual (non-ACC) driving is crucial in determining the influences of ACC systems on traffic flow-both in free flowing conditions and in flows involving high-density situations.