Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control in a Mixed-Autonomy Traffic System: A Hybrid Stochastic Predictive Approach Incorporating Lane Change

This paper presents a stochastic and predictive control design approach for connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) in a mixed-autonomy traffic environment, where CAVs are able to react properly to uncertain maneuvers of human-driven vehicles (HVs). The proposed fully-automated cooperative adaptive cruise control (CACC) design leverages a discrete hybrid stochastic model predictive controller that automatically determines the vehicle's operating mode based on onboard sensors data and information received through vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication. Operating modes include free following, warning, danger, emergency braking, and lane change. Although the controller mainly focuses on maintaining the desired velocity and distance among CAVs, it also allows HVs to perform lane-change maneuvers and merge into the platoon's lane when needed. In response to an HV's position in the lane and its probabilistic behavior, the controller may switch the CAV's operating mode to react accordingly. Considering free-following and emergency-braking modes leads to efficient and safe autonomous driving. Switching between warning, danger, and lane-change modes along with adjusting the steering angle to perform a lane-change maneuver, when needed, robustifies the platoon's performance against unexpected human-driven vehicle maneuvers. Simulation studies are conducted to validate the efficacy of the proposed control design approach. The performance of the proposed control design approach is also compared to a switching control using simulation studies.

I. Introduction

Car accidents account for numerous injuries and deaths, most of which are resulted from human errors and can be avoided by leveraging autonomous driving systems [1]. Modern vehicles are equipped with different driver assistance systems that are capable of improving the traffic network by increasing the road capacity and facilitating driving [2]. By increasing the popularity and demand for autonomous vehicles, vehicle platooning in highways and roads would be a possible solution to increase the efficiency and safety of the traffic system. The main goal in the longitudinal vehicle platoon control is to enhance performance while preserving safety.