An extensive investigation of an eco-approach controller under a partially connected and automated vehicle environment

Abstract

This study evaluated the performance of an eco-approach control system at signalized intersections under a partially connected and automated vehicle (CAV) environment. This system has the first eco-approach controller able to function with the existence of surrounding human-driven traffic. A previous evaluation only confirmed its benefits. The purpose of this study was to conduct a further extensive test on the controller to identify room for improvement. Two different networks were tested, including an isolated signalized intersection and a corridor with two signalized intersections. The measures of effectiveness (MOEs) adopted were throughput and fuel consumption. All the before-and-after MOEs were compared using t-tests. The results indicate that the controller generally improved the fuel efficiency without harm to the mobility, and its environmental performance was affected by the minimum CAV speed, green ratio, congestion level, and marker penetration rate of CAVs. A detailed investigation revealed that no significant environmental benefit was generated under high congestion levels when the minimum speed of CAVs was more than 20 mph, and the shockwaves caused by the eco-approach control may result in a gating effect that reduces the throughput at the upstream intersection of the corridor under high congestion levels.