Modelling car-following dynamics with stochastic input-state-output port-Hamiltonian systems

¹ Institute of Mathematical Modelling, Analysis and Computational Mathematics (IMACM), University of Wuppertal, Germany
² Applied and Computational Mathematics, University of Wuppertal, Germany
³ Traffic Safety and Reliability, University of Wuppertal, Germany

^* e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published online: 12 September 2025

Abstract

In this contribution, we introduce a general class of car-following models with an input-state-output port-Hamiltonian structure. We derive stability conditions and long-term behavior of the finite system with periodic boundaries and quadratic interaction potential by spectral analysis and using asymptotic properties of multivariate Ornstein-Uhlenbeck processes. The uncontrolled dynamics exhibit instability and random collective behavior under stochastic perturbations. By implementing an open-loop speed control, the system stabilizes and weakly converges to Gaussian limit distributions. The convergence is unconditional for constant speed control. However, a stability condition arises for the closed-loop system where the speed control acts as a dynamic feedback depending on the distance ahead. The results are illustrated by numerical simulations. Interestingly, only the closed-loop system is able to reproduce, at least transiently, realistic stop-and-go behavior that can be resolved using the Hamiltonian component of the model.