Microsimulation analysis of automated vehicles on multiple merge junction highways

In this paper we present a protocol that controls automated autonomous vehicles driving on a multiple merge junction highway. The protocol is distributed and it controls both merging and yielding. We show a simulation study that presents the protocol and its impacts on safety and congestion under different operating conditions. Our main result is that for simultaneous safe and efficient operations of autonomous automated vehicles the desired time headway must be linked to the travel demand on the highway segment