# Traffic regulation via controlled speed limit

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/1603.04785 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/1603.04785/

## Key facts

- Cited by 1 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 15 Mar 2016.

## Built on by (most cited first, 1 of 1)

- [Reinforcement learning-based adaptive speed controllers in mixed autonomy condition](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2408.09145/) (2024)

## Abstract (arXiv)

We study an optimal control problem for traffic regulation via variable speed limit. The traffic flow dynamics is described with the Lighthill-Whitham-Richards (LWR) model with Newell-Daganzo flux function. We aim at minimizing the L2 quadratic error to a desired outflow, given an inflow on a single road. We first provide existence of a minimizer and compute analytically the cost functional variations due to needle-like variation in the control policy. Then, we compare three strategies: instantaneous policy; random exploration of control space; steepest descent using numerical expression of gradient. We show that the gradient technique is able to achieve a cost within 10% of random exploration minimum with better computational performances.