A Three-Tier Communication and Control Structure for the Distributed Simulation of an Automated Highway System

Abstract : This paper presents an Automated Highway Simulation using a hierarchy of communication to resolve advanced traffic situations. The simulation is being done to study communication paradigms, traffic concepts, and road design. The simulation is three dimensional; projected in a two-dimensional space, and implemented as a client/server and peer-to-peer system using Java. Vehicles communicate with each other using a linked graph called a 6 way DSM, or dynamic socket mesh. Cars also use a higher communication layer - called a segment controller, and segment controllers coordinate with each other using the simulation controller.