A simulation study of a speed control system for autonomous on-road operation of automotive vehicles

Abstract

The study of human driving of automotive vehicles is an important aid to the development of viable autonomous vehicle navigation and control techniques. Observation of human behavior during driving suggests that this activity involves two distinct levels, the conscious and the unconscious. The behavior of a driver while stopping his vehicle at a stop sign can be conscious or unconscious, depending on the driver's skill level and the driving conditions. The driver's behavior involves a difficult process of estimating the distance to the stop sign and the velocity of the vehicle. Using these estimates, the driver then takes the necessary control actions to stop the vehicle. This research attempts to mimic the driver's conscious and unconscious behavior through mathematical modeling and computer simulation.