Investigating Autonomous Vehicle Driving Strategies in Highway Ramp Merging Zones

The rapid development of autonomous driving technology is widely regarded as a potential solution to current traffic congestion challenges and the future evolution of intelligent vehicles. Effective driving strategies for autonomous vehicles should balance traffic efficiency with safety and comfort....

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zhimian Chen, Yizeng Wang, Hao Hu, Zhipeng Zhang, Chengwei Zhang, Shukun Zhou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Mathematics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7390/12/23/3859
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Summary:The rapid development of autonomous driving technology is widely regarded as a potential solution to current traffic congestion challenges and the future evolution of intelligent vehicles. Effective driving strategies for autonomous vehicles should balance traffic efficiency with safety and comfort. However, the complex driving environment at highway entrance ramp merging areas presents a significant challenge. This study constructed a typical highway ramp merging scenario and utilized deep reinforcement learning (DRL) to develop and regulate autonomous vehicles with diverse driving strategies. The SUMO platform was employed as a simulation tool to conduct a series of simulations, evaluating the efficacy of various driving strategies and different autonomous vehicle penetration rates. The quantitative results and findings indicated that DRL-regulated autonomous vehicles maintain optimal speed stability during ramp merging, ensuring safe and comfortable driving. Additionally, DRL-controlled autonomous vehicles did not compromise speed during lane changes, effectively balancing efficiency, safety, and comfort. Ultimately, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of the potential applications of autonomous driving technology in highway ramp merging zones under complex traffic scenarios, offering valuable insights for addressing these challenges effectively.
ISSN:2227-7390