Cooperative Driving Automation (CDA) for Ramp Merging

Multi-level hierarchical control architecture combining corridor-wide ramp management with individual vehicle trajectory optimization using model predictive control and optimal control theory.

• Corridor Level: Strategic ramp metering using coordination algorithms to optimize system-wide traffic flow
• Ramp Level: Model Predictive Control (MPC) for real-time ramp inflow rate optimization and merging coordination
• Vehicle Level: Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) and trajectory optimization for individual CAV speed and lane-change control
• Mixed Traffic Integration: Algorithms designed to handle both connected automated vehicles (CAVs) and human-driven vehicles
• Communication Protocols: V2V and V2I communication for real-time information sharing and cooperative decision-making

Hierarchical CDA ramp merging system architecture

Ramp merging geometry and control zones

Demonstrated significant improvements across mobility, sustainability, and safety metrics through comprehensive simulation studies in realistic mixed traffic scenarios.

• Mobility Enhancement: Up to 147% improvement in traffic throughput compared to conventional ramp metering
• Energy Efficiency: 47% fuel savings achieved through coordinated eco-friendly merging maneuvers
• Safety Improvement: Reduced conflict rates and smoother merging trajectories in mixed traffic scenarios
• Scalability Validation: Successful implementation across multiple ramp configurations and traffic density conditions
• Real-time Performance: Algorithms demonstrated computational feasibility for real-world deployment with sub-second response times