Intelligent Vehicle Behavior and Emergent System Stability

Abstract

The Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) Mobile Autonomous Robotics Technology Initiative(MARTI)program has enabled the development of a fully-autonomous passenger-size vehicle, as well as the development of cooperative vehicle behaviors, such as cooperative sensor sharing and cooperative convoy operations. The program has also developed behaviors to interface intelligent vehicles with intelligent road-side devices. Development of intelligent vehicle behaviors must be understood within the context of broader traffic system dynamics. This paper examines aspects of behavioral stability for traffic systems that are comprised of intelligent vehicles and other intelligent devices that will enable stability in the emergent system behavior.