Stabilization of traffic flow in optimal velocity model via delayed-feedback control

Traffic jams may occur due to various reasons, such as traffic accidents, lane reductions and on-ramps. In order to suppress the traffic congestion in an optimal velocity traffic model without any driver’s delay taken into account, a delayed-feedback control of both displacement and velocity differences is proposed in this study. By using the delay-independent stability criteria and the H∞-norm, the delayed-feedback control can be determined to stabilize the unstable traffic flow and suppress the traffic jam. The numerical case studies are given to demonstrate and verify the new control method. Furthermore, a comparison is made between the new control method and the method proposed by Konishi et al. [K. Konishi, M. Hirai, H. Kokame, Decentralized delayed-feedback control of an optimal velocity traffic model, Eur. Phys. J. B 15 (2000) 715–722]. The results show that the new control method makes the traffic flow more stable and improves the control performance.

► A delayed-feedback control of both displacement and velocity differences is proposed.
► The delay-independent stability criterion is used to design the controller.
► The controller of each vehicle does not require the information of other vehicle.
► The controller can suppress traffic jam by choosing proper feedback gains and time delay.
► The new control method improves the control performance.