Traffic Wave Properties for Automated Vehicles During Traffic Oscillations via Analytical Approximations

TL;DR

This paper develops an analytical framework using Laplacian Transformation and Describing Function Analysis to understand how automated vehicles influence traffic wave propagation during oscillations, considering heterogeneity in traffic.

Contribution

It introduces a novel analytical approximation framework that links AV control models with traffic wave properties, extending to heterogeneous traffic scenarios.

Findings

The framework accurately predicts traffic wave speeds in simulations.

AV control strategies significantly affect traffic wave dynamics.

The approach applies to both homogeneous and heterogeneous traffic conditions.

Abstract

This paper presents an analytical approximation framework to understand the dynamics of traffic wave propagation for Automated Vehicles (AVs) during traffic oscillations. The framework systematically unravels the intricate relationships between the longitudinal control model of the AVs and the properties of traffic waves. We apply Laplacian Transformation and Describing Function Analysis to mathematically derive the traffic wave properties of an AV in car-following scenarios. Further, we incorporate Newell's car-following model to determine the speed of the traffic waves. Our analysis extends to both homogenous and heterogenous traffic, systematically handling intra-heterogeneities and inter-heterogeneities in traffic wave propagation using the established analytical framework. We validate our approach via numerical simulations and show the connections between the AV control system and traffic wave properties. This research emphasizes the importance of rethinking our understanding of traffic wave properties when AVs are present in the traffic system.