Multisource human-in-the-loop digital twin testbed for connected and autonomous vehicles in mixed traffic flow

In emerging mixed traffic environments, connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) must interact with surrounding human-driven vehicles (HDVs). This study introduces multisource human-in-the-loop mixed cloud control testbed (MSH-MCCT), a novel CAV testbed that captures complex interactions between various CAVs and HDVs. Utilizing the mixed digital twin concept, which combines mixed reality with digital twins, MSH-MCCT integrates physical, virtual, and mixed platforms, along with multisource control inputs. Bridged by the mixed platform, MSH-MCCT allows human drivers and CAV algorithms to operate both physical and virtual vehicles within multiple fields of view. In particular, this testbed facilitates the coexistence and real-time interaction of physical and virtual CAVs and HDVs, significantly enhancing the experimental flexibility and scalability. Experiments on vehicle platooning in mixed traffic showcase the potential of MSH-MCCT to conduct CAV testing with multisource real human drivers in the loop through driving simulators of diverse fidelity.