Multi-value cellular automaton models and metastable states in a congested phase

Abstract

In this paper, a family of multi-value cellular automaton (CA) associated with traffic flow is presented. The family is obtained by extending the rule-184 CA, which is an ultradiscrete analogue to the Burgers equation. CA models in the family show both metastable states and stop-and-go waves, which are often observed in real traffic flow. Metastable states in the models exist not only on a prominent part of a free phase but also in a congested phase.