Urban traffic signal control with connected and automated vehicles: A survey

Inefficient traffic control is pervasive in modem urban areas, which would exaggerate traffic congestion as well as deteriorate mobility, fuel economy and safety. In this paper, we systematically review the potential solutions that take advantage of connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) to improve the control performances of urban signalized intersections. We review the methods and models to estimate traffic flow states and optimize traffic signal timing plans based on CAVs. We summarize six types of CAV-based traffic control methods and propose a conceptual mathematical framework that can be specified to each of six three types of methods by selecting different state variables, control inputs, and environment inputs. The benefits and drawbacks of various CAV-based control methods are explained, and future research directions are discussed. We hope that this review could provide readers with a helpful roadmap for future research on CAV-based urban traffic control and draw their attention to the most challenging problems in this important and promising field.