Effects of connected and autonomous vehicle merging behavior on mainline human-driven vehicle

• Published in: Journal of Intelligent and Connected Vehicles Vol. 5; no. 1; pp. 36 - 45
• Main Authors: Yue, Lishengsa, Abdel-Aty, Mohamed, Wang, Zijin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bingley Emerald Publishing Limited 17.02.2022; Emerald Group Publishing Limited; Tsinghua University Press
• Subjects: Algorithms; Autonomous vehicles; Behavior; connected and autonomous vehicle; Control algorithms; Control theory; Design; Driver behavior; Driving ability; driving comfort; driving safety; driving simulator; Field study; merging algorithm; merging behavior; Optimization; Powertrain; Psychology; Restrictions; Roads & highways; safety and comfort; Simulation; Traffic flow; Vehicle safety; Connected and autonomous vehicle; Safety and comfort; Driving simulator; Merging behavior; Driving comfort; Driving safety; Merging algorithm
• DOI: 10.1108/JICV-08-2021-0013
• ISSN: 2399-9802

Purpose This study aims to evaluate the influence of connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) merging algorithms on the driver behavior of human-driven vehicles on the mainline. Design/methodology/approach Previous studies designed their merging algorithms mostly based on either the simulation or the restricted field testing, which lacks consideration of realistic driving behaviors in the merging scenario. This study developed a multi-driver simulator system to embed realistic driving behavior in the validation of merging algorithms. Findings Four types of CAV merging algorithms were evaluated regarding their influences on driving safety and driving comfort of the mainline vehicle platoon. The results revealed significant variation of the algorithm influences. Specifically, the results show that the reference-trajectory-based merging algorithm may outperform the social-psychology-based merging algorithm which only considers the ramp vehicles. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time to evaluate a CAV control algorithm considering realistic driver interactions rather than by the simulation. To achieve the research purpose, a novel multi-driver driving simulator was developed, which enables multi-drivers to simultaneously interact with each other during a virtual driving test. The results are expected to have practical implications for further improvement of the CAV merging algorithm.