Distributed predictive cruise control based on reinforcement learning and validation on microscopic traffic simulation

This study proposes a novel distributed predictive cruise control (PCC) algorithm based on reinforcement learning. The algorithm aims at reducing idle time and maintaining an adjustable speed depending on the traffic signals. The effectiveness of the proposed approach has been validated through Paramics microscopic traffic simulations by proposing a scenario in Statesboro, Georgia. For different traffic demands, the travel time and fuel consumption rate of vehicles are compared between non-PCC and PCC algorithms. Microscopic traffic simulation results demonstrate that the proposed PCC algorithm will reduce the fuel consumption rate by 4.24% and decrease the average travel time by 3.78%.