Automatic Headway Control - An Automatic Vehicle Spacing System

Automatic headway control is an evolutionary step towards an automatic vehicle guidance and control system. This system expands the capability of the currently available production option-speed control.

This paper describes the system from a theoretical and hardware viewpoint, with emphasis on the control logic. The electronic and electromechanical hardware design based on the theory presented is fully described.

The limitations and advantages of the system are explained, based on test results from actual trial runs on an implemented vehicle.

Capacity and safety benefits are made somewhat tangible by direct comparison with test results obtained on a roadway similar to that for which this system is recommended, under test conditions directly analogous to the operating characteristics of the automatic headway control system.