Abstract:
This paper presents an intelligent, fuzzy inference-based controller to control the speed of a car moving behind another one on roads or highways. The control objectives, represented by smoothness and safety of car following while the following vehicle (FV) is seeking a final safe distance from the leading vehicle (LV) and equal speeds, are first described. The fuzzy controller is then designed by accounting for the noted objectives and the practical background of the car following problem. The controller, which is designed off-line, permits the necessary on-line adjustment of the FV acceleration, considered as the controller output, based on the relative distance and relative speed between the two cars, taken as the controller inputs. These inputs can be obtained from appropriate sensors installed on the FV. The superiority of the fuzzy controller, in terms of meeting the control objectives, is verified through simulations and comparison of the results with those of the published fuzzy and neuro-fuzzy methods.