California Partners for Advanced Transportation Technology

This paper attempts to assess the effects of brake system dynamics and inter-vehicle communication delays (microscopic characteristics) on the capacity of an automated highway system (macroscopic characteristics). Simulations were conducted to investigate the relationship between the microscopic and macroscopic characteristics. Recommendations are made regarding the maximum desired delays, intra-platoon and inter-platoon distances and platoon size in order to achieve the highest possible capacity while maintaining a high degree of safety.