Car-following model based on artificial potential field with consideration of horizontal curvature in connected vehicles environment

Connected vehicles (CVs) will gradually replace traditional vehicles to become the main components of traffic flow. Studying the car-following behavior characteristics is crucial for improving traffic flow stability and safety in CVs environment. Additionally, the radius of road curvature significantly impacts vehicle driving behavior, making it necessary to consider it for the car-following models of CVs. The artificial potential field (APF) theory can more accurately and comprehensively depict various microscopic driving behaviors, offering a new approach for modeling vehicle microscopic behavior. Firstly, this paper constructs the attractive and repulsive potential fields considering horizontal curve curvature based on a road coordinate transformation model. Secondly, an Artificial Potential Field-Based Car-Following Model Considering Curvature (APFCCM) in connected vehicles environment is proposed. Finally, the model is calibrated and validated using the Hangzhou - Xifu Freeway dataset from the Tongji Road Trajectory Sharing (TJRD TS) platform, and compared with the full velocity difference model(FVDM), the Intelligent Driver Model (IDM) and the Driving Risk Potential Field Model (DRPFM). The results show that the APFCCM performs well in trajectory simulation, model accuracy, and scenario adaptability, and it has the lowest mean absolute error(MAE) and root mean square error(RMSE) in position, speed, and acceleration metrics.