Following behaviors: a model for computing following distances based on prediction

In this paper, we present a new model to simulate following behavior. This model is based on a dynamic following distance that changes according to the follower's speed and to the leader's motion. The following distance is associated with a prediction of the leader's future position to give a following ideal position. We show the resulting following trajectory and detail the importance of the distance variation in different situations. The model is evaluated using real data. We demonstrate the capacity of our model to reproduce macroscopic patterns and show that it is also able to synthesize trajectories similar to real ones. Finally, we compare our results with other following models and point out the improvements.