The effect of stochastic accelerating and delay probability with the velocity and the gap between vehicles on traffic flow

This paper proposes a new combined cellular automaton (CA) model considering the driver behavior of stochastic acceleration and delay with the velocity of the preceding vehicle and the gap between the successive vehicles based on the WWH model and the noise-first NaSch model. It introduces the delay probability varying with the gap, adds the anticipation headway and increases the acceleration with a certain probability. Through these simulations, not only can the metastable state and start--stop wave be obtained but also the synchronized flow which the wide moving jam results in. Moreover, the effect of stochastic acceleration and delay on traffic flow is discussed by analyzing the correlation of traffic data. This indicates that synchronized flow easily emerges in the critical area between free flow and synchronized flow when acceleration and delay are synchronized or their probability is close to 0.5.     

Cellular automata model for traffic flow with safe driving conditions

In this paper, a recently introduced cellular automata （CA） model is used for a statistical analysis of the inner micro-scopic structure of synchronized traffic flow. The analysis focuses on the formation and dissolution of clusters or platoons of vehicles, as the mechanism that causes the presence of this synchronized traffic state with a high flow. This platoon formation is one of the most interesting phenomena observed in traffic flows and plays an important role both in manual and automated highway systems （AHS）. Simulation results, obtained from a single-lane system under periodic boundary conditions indicate that in the density region where the synchronized state is observed, most vehicles travel together in pla- toons with approximately the same speed and small spatial distances. The examination of velocity variations and individual vehicle gaps shows that the flow corresponding to the synchronized state is stable, safe and highly correlated. Moreover, results indicate that the observed platoon formation in real traffic is reproduced in simulations by the relation between vehicle headway and velocity that is embedded in the dynamics definition of the CA model.     

Simulating synchronized traffic flow and wide moving jam based on the brake light rule

A new cellular automaton (CA) model based on brake light rules is proposed, which considers the influence of deterministic deceleration on randomization probability and deceleration extent. To describe the synchronized flow phase of Kerner’s three-phase theory in accordance with empirical data, we have changed some rules of vehicle motion with the aim to improve speed and acceleration vehicle behavior in synchronized flow simulated with earlier cellular automaton models with brake lights. The fundamental diagrams and spatial–temporal diagrams are analyzed, as well as the complexity of the traffic evolution, the emergence process of wide moving jam. Simulation results show that our new model can reproduce the three traffic phases: free flow, synchronized flow and wide moving jam. In addition, our new model can well describe the complexity of traffic evolution: (1) with initial homogeneous distribution and large densities, the traffic will evolve into multiple steady states, in which the numbers of wide moving jams are not invariable. (2) With initial homogeneous distribution and the middle range of density, the wide moving jam will emerge stochastically. (3) With initial mega-jam distribution and the density close to a point with the low value, the initial mega-jam will disappear stochastically. (4) For the cases with multiple wide moving jams, the process is analyzed involving the generation of narrow moving jam due to “pinch effect”, which leads to wide moving jam emergence.     

优先随机慢化及预测间距对交通流的影响

在周期性边界条件下，通过引入预测车辆间距对Noise-First模型进行改进，数值模拟了不同参数下的交通情形. 研究表明：引入预测间距的Noise-First模型更能真实地反映实际交通状况，不仅再现了启止波、同步流，而且出现了亚稳态，非平衡相变等与实际道路交通一致的非线性现象. 关键词： 交通流 元胞自动机 同步流 亚稳态     

Characteristics of synchronized traffic in mixed traffic flow

In this paper, the characteristics of synchronized traffic in mixed traffic flow are investigated based on the braking light model. By introducing the energy dissipation and the distribution of slowdown vehicles, the effects of the maximum velocity, the mixing ratio, and the length of vehicles on the synchronized flow are discussed. It is found that the maximum velocity plays a great role in the synchronized flow in mixed traffic. The energy dissipation and the distribution of slowdown vehicles in the synchronized flow region are greatly different from those in free flow and a traffic jamming region. When all of vehicles have the same maximum velocity with V max > 15, the mixed traffic significantly displays synchronized flow, which has been demonstrated by the relation between flow rate and occupancy and estimation of the cross-correlation function. Moreover, the energy dissipation in the synchronized flow region does not increase with occupancy. The distribution of slowdown vehicles shows a changeless platform in the synchronized flow region. This is an interesting phenomenon. It helps to deeply understand the synchronized flow and greatly reduce the energy dissipation of traffic flow.     

A velocity-difference-separation model for car-following theory

We introduce a velocity-difference-separation model that modifies the previous models in the literature. The improvement of this new model over the previous ones lies in that it not only theoretically retains many strong points of the previous ones, but also performs more realistically than others in the dynamical evolution of congestion. Furthermore, the proposed model is investigated with analytic and numerical methods, with the finding that it can demonstrate some complex physical features observed in real traffic such as the existence of three phases: free flow, synchronized flow, and wide moving jam; sudden flow drop in flow-density plane; and traffic hysteresis in transition between the free and the synchronized flow.     

Towards the bi-directional cellular automaton model with perception ranges

The traditional cellular automaton (CA) model assumes that drivers only receive information from the preceding vehicles, e.g. the brake light information. However, in reality, drivers not only perceive information from downstream but can also get upstream information, e.g. the honk stimulation. The CA model involving traffic information from downstream and upstream is called the bi-directional CA model here. Meanwhile, with the introduction of Connected Vehicle Technologies, the perception range of drivers is expected to significantly increase which can lead to more informed driving behavior. Such an impact cannot be easily modeled by traditional one-directional CA models. In this study, the perception ranges of both the brake light effect and honk stimulation are introduced into the bi-directional CA model. Fundamental diagrams and spatial–temporal diagrams are then analyzed and two methods, i.e. the traffic flow interruption effect and microscopic analysis of time series data, are utilized to distinguish the synchronized traffic flow. Further numerical results illustrate that the perception range and slow-to-start sensitivity threshold are two important factors to reproduce the synchronized flow, and consideration of the honk information and the larger perception range both benefit the stability of traffic flow, which implies the potential significance of the application of Connected Vehicle Technologies.     

Traffic Modelling for Moving-Block Train Control System

This paper presents a new cellular automaton （CA） model for train control system simulation. In the proposed CA model, the driver reactions to train movements are captured by some updated rules. The space-time diagram of traffic flow and the trajectory of train movement is used to obtain insight into the characteristic behavior of railway traffic flow. A number of simulation results demonstrate that the proposed CA model can be successfully used for the simulations of railway traffic. Not only the characteristic behavior of railway traffic flow can be reproduced, but also the simulation values of the minimum time headway are close to the theoretical values.     

Cellular automaton model within the fundamental-diagram approach reproducing some findings of the three-phase theory

We propose a simple cellular automaton for traffic flow within the fundamental diagram, which could reproduce aspects of the three-phase theory. This so-called average space gap model (ASGM) is based on the Nagel–Schreckenberg model with additional slow-to-start and anticipation rules. The anticipation rule takes into account the average space gap of multiple leading vehicles and conveys to the model its three-phase property. Due to the anticipation rule, ASGM can show the transition from free flow to synchronized flow. Due to the slow-to-start rule, ASGM can show the spontaneous wide moving jam emerges in the synchronized flow. Simulations are carried out for periodic and open boundary conditions. Under periodic boundary condition, the fundamental diagram, and the properties of synchronized flow are studied. Under open boundary condition, different congested patterns induced by an on-ramp are analyzed. We found that the ASGM produces the same spatiotemporal dynamics as many of the more complex three-phase models. Due to its simplicity and its close relation to conventional slow-to-start models, this model can shed light on the relation between ‘two-phase’ and three-phase models.     

Synchronized Flow in a Cellular Automaton Model with Time Headway Dependent Randomization

We propose another possible mechanism of synchronized flow, i,e. that a time headway dependent randomization can exhibit synchronized flow. Based on this assumption, we present a new cellular automaton （CA） model for traffic flow, in which randomization effect is enhanced with the decrease of time headway. We study fundamental diagram and spatial-temporal diagrams of the model and perform microscopic analysis of time series data, which shows the model could reproduce synchronized flow as expected. It is also shown that a spontaneous transition from synchronized flow to jam could be observed by incorporating slow-to-start effect into the model. We expect that our work could contribute to the understanding of the real origin of synchronized flow.     

基于多尺度熵的交通流复杂性分析

交通流演化复杂性的研究有助于深刻理解交通系统的内在演化规律,为交通流的预测和控制提供理论依据.多尺度熵方法在生理时间序列和计算机网络流量的分析中得到了广泛的应用.考虑到交通流中的车辆到达和计算机网络中的分组到达具有类似特性,本文以刹车灯模型的车头时距为分析对象,利用多尺度熵方法来分析交通流演化的复杂性.分析结果表明:1)车头时距的复杂性随着时间尺度的增加而降低,反映了交通流的短时间难预测性;2)当时间尺度较小时,车头时距复杂性在自由流时和同步流时差异不大,但是,随着时间尺度的增加,自由流时车头时距的熵值迅速下降,而同步流时车头时距的熵值下降较慢.这一特性对于识别自由流中是否产生了同步流有非常重要的参考价值.本文的研究可以为揭示交通流演化的复杂性提供新的思路和方法.     

考虑动态车间距的一维元胞自动机交通流模型

基于NaSch元胞自动机交通流模型, 考虑司机复杂的性格特征和驾驶行为差异, 引入相邻车辆的动态车间距, 提出了一个改进的单车道元胞自动机交通流模型. 通过数值模拟得到了流量-密度关系, 在中高密度区域呈现出一种弥散分布的状态而非惟一确定的关系, 再现了交通系统中的自由流、同步流及宽幅运动阻塞, 表明道路上即使没有交通瓶颈也会出现同步流和拥挤交通, 同时揭示了在同步流中存在的车辆高速跟驰现象, 高速跟驰率与交通实测结果较为符合.     

Phase transition in a mixture of adaptive cruise control vehicles and manual vehicles

In this paper, we have investigated the effects of adaptive cruise control (ACC) vehicles in a mixture with manually-controlled (manual) vehicles. The manual vehicles are simulated by using the modified comfortable driving model, which can describe synchronized traffic flow. The phase transition probabilities from free flow to synchronized flow and from synchronized flow to jams are studied. The impact of ACC vehicles on the flow rates in free flow and synchronized flow and on the propagation velocity of the downstream front of jams are investigated. The dependence of microscopic properties of traffic flow, including the spatiotemporal patterns and the velocity distribution, is explored. Our results are expected to be useful for developing ACC systems.     

Analysis of Phase Transition in Traffic Flow based on a New Model of Driving Decision

Different driving decisions will cause different processes of phase transition in traffic flow.To reveal the inner mechanism, this paper built a new cellular automaton (CA) model,based on the driving decision (DD). In the DD model, a driver's decision is divided intothree stages: decision-making, action, and result. The acceleration is taken as a decisionvariable and three core factors, i.e. distance between adjacent vehicles, their own velocity,and the preceding vehicle's velocity, are considered. Simulation results show that the DDmodel can simulate the synchronized flow effectively and describe the phase transitionin traffic flow well. Further analyses illustrate that various density will cause the phasetransition and the random probability will impact the process. Compared with the traditional NaSch model, the DD model considered the preceding vehicle's velocity, the deceleration limitation, and a safe
distance, so it can depict closer to the driver preferences on pursuing safety, stability and fuel-saving and has strong theoreticalinnovation for future studies.     

Effect of driver over-acceleration on traffic breakdown in three-phase cellular automaton traffic flow models

Based on simulations with cellular automaton (CA) traffic flow models, a generic physical feature of the three-phase models studied in the paper is disclosed. The generic feature is a discontinuous character of driver over-acceleration caused by a combination of two qualitatively different mechanisms of over-acceleration: (i) Over-acceleration through lane changing to a faster lane, (ii) over-acceleration occurring in car-following without lane changing. Based on this generic feature a new three-phase CA traffic flow model is developed. This CA model explains the set of the fundamental empirical features of traffic breakdown in real heterogeneous traffic flow consisting of passenger vehicles and trucks. The model simulates also quantitative traffic pattern characteristics as measured in real heterogeneous flow.     

Noise-Induced Phase Transition in Traffic Flow

One of the dynamic phases of the traffic flow is the traffic jam. It appears in traffic flow when the vehicledensity is larger than the critical value. In this paper, a new method is presented to investigate the traffic jam when thevehicle density is smaller than the critical value. In our method, we introduce noise into the traffic system after sufficienttransient time. Under the effect of noise, the traffic jam appears, and the phase transition from tree to synchronized flowoccurs in traffic flow. Our method is tested for the deterministic NaSch traffic model. The simulation results demonstratethat there exist a broad range of lower densities at which the noise effect leading to traffic jam can be observed.     

元胞自动机交通流模型的相变特性研究

系统地研究 VDR模型和T²模型在不同车流密度时车辆位置的相关性. 通过VDR模型、BJH模型和T²模型的序参量计算，确定在这三个模型中车流从自由流动到阻塞的相变特性，结果发现引入慢启动规则后，在不同的延迟概率和最大速度情况下，将引起交通相变特性的改变. 关键词： 交通流 元胞自动机 相关函数 序参量     

宏观交通流模型的能耗研究

本文在几种典型的宏观交通流模型的基础上,导出能量耗散的计算公式,宏观交通流模型能耗不同于元胞自动机交通模型,其能耗不仅考虑车流速度减少,而且还要计及通过路段的车流通量引起的能耗.通过对满足黎曼初始条件的道路能耗和道路交通瓶颈处能耗的计算和理论分析,表明交通拥堵处,能量耗散比较高,而且能量耗散的变化也能反映交通拥堵产生及消散的情况.     

Effect of acceleration threshold on the phase transition in a cellular automaton traffic flow model

In this paper, we incorporate new parameters into a cellular automaton traffic flow model proposed in our previous paper [Jin et al. 2010 J. Stat. Mech. 2010 P03018]. Through these parameters, we adjust the anticipated velocity and the acceleration threshold separately. It turns out that the flow rate of synchronized flow mainly changes with the anticipated velocity, and the F → S phase transition feature mainly changes with the acceleration threshold. Therefore, we conclude that the acceleration threshold is the major factor affecting the F → S phase transition.     

考虑驾驶方式改变的一维元胞自动机交通流模型

在一维元胞自动机交通流WWH模型和SDNS模型的基础上,建立了考虑驾驶方式改变的元胞自动机模型（Change-CA模型）.具体描述为驾驶员可根据交通环境选择不同的驾驶方式在道路上驾车行驶,以各自的演化规则进行状态更新,同时定义了驾驶方式更新原则.通过计算机数值模拟,发现驾驶方式可变时,模型模拟得到的混合交通流流量较大;保守型驾驶方式对交通流变化的影响随改变概率增大而减少.并且在演化过程中,驾驶方式改变频率的变化趋势与改变概率、安全概率密切相关.与NS模型和SDNS模型相比,Change-CA模型减少了车流 关键词： 交通流 元胞自动机 驾驶方式 计算机数值模拟