COMMUNICATION REQUIREMENTS IN THE METHODOLOGY OF AUTOMATIC CONTROL OF HIGHWAY TRAFFIC

THE HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM OF THE UNITED STATES IS THE LARGEST AND THE MOST HIGHLY DEVELOPED SYSTEM IN THE WORLD. YET SERIOUS CONGESTION AND DELAY ARE COMMONPLACE AND THE CASUALTIES RESULTING FROM MOTOR-VEHICLE ACCIDENTS CONSTITUTE A CONTINUING CATASTROPHE. MANY AUTHORITIES NOW AGREE THAT A REASONABLE DEGREE OF SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY WILL COME TO HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION ONLY WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM INVOLVING A LARGE MEASURE OF AUTOMATIC CONTROL. THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES ARE SUGGESTED AS FUNDAMENTAL RULES FOR AUTOMATIC CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR HIGHWAY TRAFFIC: (1) THE VEHICLES SHOULD MOVE EFFICIENTLY ON THE HIGHWAY FROM ENTRANCE TO EXIT, (2) THE VEHICLES MUST HOLD PROPERLY TO AN ARRANGED PATH, AND (3) THE VEHICLES MUST NOT COLLIDE WITH A PERSON, ANOTHER VEHICLE, AN ANIMAL OR OTHER OBJECT. THE SYSTEM MUST FAIL SAFE AND MUST POSSESS A VERY HIGH DEGREE OF RELIABILITY. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THE COST OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SYSTEM WILL REPAID BY THE GAINS IN EFFICIENCY OF THE SYSTEM IN ADDITION TO THE REDUCTION IN ACCIDENT EXPERIENCE.