Scheduling is All You Need in Node- and Link-Based Frameworks for Future Traffic Control

Traditional traffic control has been based on collective stop-and-go movements for over a century, but should we still hold the presumption that it is best in the future as well, when collision risks may be less? Beginning with the simple idea of scheduling for individual vehicle movements, a new paradigm for next-generation traffic control can be developed to avoid forced vehicle stoppage and queuing that is inherent in current traffic control. This leads to control that is link-based, in contrast to the traditional node-based control. The new scheme can drastically improve travel times and throughput, and also lead to smoother eco-driving. The research presented here develops optimized schemes to schedule movements that use traffic stream gaps and also proposes a mathematical model for traffic safety analysis. Simulations demonstrate that these models significantly improve traffic efficiency, reduce environmental impact, save fuel, and potentially enhance traffic safety.