An experimental study of vehicle automatic longitudinal control

It appears that both substantial improvement in high-speed high-density traffic flow and a decrease in highway accidents can be achieved by highway automation. An essential part of any approach to such automation is a method for the automatic longitudinal control of vehicles. The results of experimental tests of an automatic longitudinal control system in various lead-car overtaking, emergency braking, and car-following situations are reported. An examination of the data shows that this system can safely, efficiently, and comfortably control a vehicle during such maneuvers. The results of these tests corresponded to those predicted from previous theoretical and simulator studies.