Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-1-2021
Abstract
Connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV) will open the future to vast possibilities in transportation, most of which have yet to be imagined. As these new technologies emerge, they also have the potential to render many of today's most common transportation control methods irrelevant. In this paper, concepts of connected and autonomous are applied to coordinate and synchronize the arrival and departure of vehicles at intersections; effectively ending the need for traffic signals. Under a set of 'autonomous rules of operation', vehicles can be kept in near-continuous motion while also maintaining safe separation, creating a system of 'virtual traffic signal' (VTS). Assessments of these rules shows that delay and stopping reductions of more than 50 to 97 percent will be possible over actuated control and fixed time signal control - and without the risk of collisions. Not will these rules reduce congestion, travel time, and prevent crashes; they will also lower fuel consumption and exhaust emissions.
Publication Source (Journal or Book title)
IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems
First Page
6954
Last Page
6966
Recommended Citation
Zhang, Z., Liu, F., Wolshon, B., & Sheng, Y. (2021). Virtual Traffic Signals: Safe, Rapid, Efficient and Autonomous Driving without Traffic Control. IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, 22 (11), 6954-6966. https://doi.org/10.1109/TITS.2020.2998907