An Analysis of Double Queue on PRT System and a Control Strategy for Merging

Abstract

This paper deals with a merging section of Personal Rapid Transit system. Several schemes have been proposed for the control of vehicles in PRT systems. In quasi-synchronous control systems, one flow of traffic must form a queue at a merging section in order to avoid the collision of vehicles. In other words, a queue is formed on one of the lines, which is called the sub line; the other line is called the main line. Basically, vehicles on the main line have priority. We propose a control strategy whereby vehicles on the main line are usually not stopped; vehicles on the main line are only stopped when the number of waiting vehicles on the sub line exceeds some specific number. Therefore, queues are formed on the main line and the sub line, respectively. This paper presents a fundamental discussion of the effects of the double queue and the relationship between traffic density and the behavior of traffic.