A forward-looking anticipative viscous high-order continuum model considering two leading vehicles for traffic flow through wireless V2X communication in autonomous and connected vehicle environment

• Published in: Physica A 2020-10, Vol.556, p.124589, Article 124589
• Main Authors: Sun, Lu, Jafaripournimchahi, Ammar, Hu, Wusheng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anticipation; Autonomous and connected vehicles; Car-following model; Continuum traffic flow model; Viscosity; Wireless V2X communication
• ISSN: 0378-4371; 1873-2119
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2020.124589

To evaluate the effects of anticipative driving behavior based on the motion information of two leading vehicles, we first propose a new car-following model which integrates space and velocity changes of two leading vehicles implemented through V2X wireless communication in autonomous and connected vehicles environment. We then derive a corresponding macroscopic viscous continuum traffic flow model, more realistic and meaningful than those coming directly from an analogy of Navier–Stokes equations as the new macroscopic model does not exhibit a wrong-way travel phenomenon. It is revealed that taking into account motion information of two leading vehicles leads to a viscosity parameter in macroscopic traffic flow equation. The viscosity parameter is proportional to a unique quantity, which is featured with two parameters: the delay time of vehicle motion and the kinematic wave velocity at jam density. Linear and nonlinear stability analysis using the method of perturbation is carried out to study traffic characteristics. •Proposed a forward-looking anticipation optimal velocity (FLAOV) car-following model•FLAOV model increases traffic flow stability by considering two leading vehicles.•Derived an anticipative viscous continuum traffic flow model without exhibiting wrong-way travel phenomenon.•The viscosity in the new continuum model is velocity gradient dependent rather than density gradient dependent.•Analyzed linear and nonlinear stability of the new microscopic and macroscopic models.