Baidu USA LLC

Baidu.com Times Technology (beijing) Co. Ltd.

Apollo Autonomous Driving USA LLC

Beijing Baidu Netcom Science Technology Co., Ltd

Shu Jiang

Jiangtao Hu

Jinghao Miao

Qi Luo

Yu Wang

Jinyun Zhou

Jiaxuan Xu

Runxin He

Jiaming Tao

Yu Long Cao

Weiman Lin

Jingao Wang

Kecheng Xu

Shiyu Song

Xiangquan Xiao

Yifei Jiang

Hongyi Sun

Longtao Lin

Szu-Hao Wu

Hao Liu

Jiacheng Pan

Helen K Pan

Chao Ma

Haofeng Kou

Kuang Hu

Xiaoyi Zhu

Jeong Ho Lyu

Fuyang Zhao

Zongbao Feng

Wei-Man Lin

Szu Hao Wu

Ang Li

Linpeng Cheng

The present disclosure provides methods and techniques for evaluating and improving algorithms for autonomous driving planning and control (PNC), using one or more metrics (e.g., similarity scores) computed based on expert demonstrations. For example, the one or more metrics allow for improving PNC based on human, as opposed to or in addition to optimizing certain oversimplified properties, such as the least distance or time, as an objective. When driving in certain scenarios, such as taking a turn, people may drive in a distributed probability pattern instead of in a uniform line (e.g., different speeds and different curvatures at the same corner). As such, there can be more than one 'correct' control trajectory for an autonomous vehicle to perform in the same turn. Safety, comfort, speeds, and other criteria may lead to different preferences and judgment as to how well the controlled trajectory has been computed.

Distributional expert demonstrations for autonomous driving

In one embodiment, a system configures an image signal processor (ISP) of an autonomous driving vehicle (ADV) with a first set of ISP configuration parameters, where the ISP is used to process raw image data of an image sensor of the ADV based on the first set of ISP configuration parameters. The system determines whether one or more criteria is satisfied, where the one or more criteria corresponds to an expected change in a characteristic of ambient light being perceived by the image sensor of the ADV. In response to determining that the one or more criteria is satisfied, the system configures the ISP of the ADV with a second set of ISP configuration parameters, where the ISP is used to apply an image processing algorithm to raw image data based on the second set of ISP configuration parameters to generate an image.

On-board tuning of image signal processor for cameras of autonomous vehicles

According to some embodiments, systems, methods and media for dynamically generating scenario parameters for an autonomous driving vehicles (ADV) are described. In one embodiment, when an ADV enters a driving scenario, the ADV can invoke a map-based scenario checker to determine the type of scenario, and invokes a corresponding neural network model to generate a set of parameters for the scenario based on real-time environmental conditions (e.g., traffics) and vehicle status information (e.g., speed). The set of scenario parameters can be a set of extra constraints for configuring the ADV to drive in a driving mode corresponding to the scenario.

Dynamic scenario parameters for an autonomous driving vehicle

In one embodiment, a microcontroller unit (MCU) receives an expected state of an autonomous driving vehicle (ADV) from a controller of the ADV, where the controller controls motions of the ADV using a control algorithm. The MCU receives sensor data from one or more sensors of the ADV. The MCU determine an actual state of the ADV based on the sensor data. The MCU determines a performance metric of the control algorithm based on the expected state and the actual state. In response to determining the performance metric has satisfied a predetermined condition, the MCU determines a plurality of weight values for the control algorithm. The MCU sends the plurality of weight values to the control system to tune one or more weight parameters of the control algorithm using the plurality of weight values, where the controller controls the ADV using the tuned control algorithm.

On-board parameter tuning for control module for autonomous vehicles

In one embodiment, an exemplary method includes the operations of receiving, at a profiling application, a record file recorded by the ADV for a driving scenario in an area, and a high definition map matching the area; extracting planning messages and perception messages from the record file; and aligning the planning message and the perception messages based on their timestamps. The method further includes calculating an individual performance score for each planning cycle of the ADV for the driving scenario based on the planning messages; calculating a weight for each planning cycle based on the perception messages and the high definition map; and then calculating a weighted score for the driving scenario based on individual performance scores and their corresponding weights.

Weighted planning trajectory profiling method for autonomous vehicle

Systems, methods, and media for factoring localization uncertainty of an ADV into its planning and control process to increase the safety of the ADV. The uncertainty of the localization can be caused by sensor inaccuracy, map matching algorithm inaccuracy, and/or speed uncertainty. The localization uncertainty can have negative impact on trajectory planning and vehicle control. Embodiments described herein are intended to increase the safety of the ADV by considering localization uncertainty in trajectory planning and vehicle control. An exemplary method includes determining a confidence region for an ADV that is automatically driving on a road segment based on localization uncertainty and speed uncertainty; determining that an object is within the confidence region, and a probability of collision with the ADV based on a distance of the object to the ADV; and planning a trajectory based on the probability of collision, and controlling the ADV based on the probability of collision.

Control and planning with localization uncertainty

Disclosed are performance metrics for evaluating the accuracy of a dynamic model in predicting the trajectory of ADV when simulating the behavior of the ADV under the control commands. The performance metrics may indicate the degree of similarity between the predicted trajectory of the dynamic model and the actual trajectory of the vehicle when applied with identical control commands. The performance metrics measure deviations of the predicted trajectory of the dynamic model from the actual trajectory based on the ground truths. The performance metrics may include cumulative or mean absolute trajectory error, end-pose difference (ED), two-sigma defect rate (ε), the Hausdirff Distance (HAU), the longest common sub-sequence error (LCSS), or dynamic time warping (DTW). The two-sigma defect rate represents the ratio of the number of points with true location error falling out of the 2σ range of the predicted location error over the total number of points in the trajectory.

Dynamic model evaluation package for autonomous driving vehicles

An obstacle is detected based on sensor data obtained from a plurality of sensors of the ADV. A distribution of a plurality of positions of the obstacle at a point of time may be predicted. A range of positions of the plurality of positions of the obstacle may be determined based on a confidence level of the range. A modified shape with a modified length of the obstacle may be determined based on the range of positions of the obstacle. A trajectory of the ADV based on the modified shape with the modified length of the obstacle may be planned. The ADV may be controlled to drive according to the planned trajectory to drive safely to avoid a collision with the obstacle.

Planning under prediction with confidence region for an autonomous driving vehicle

According to some embodiments, described herein is a method and a system for guaranteeing safety at a control level of an ADV when at least a portion of a planned path generated by a planning module of the ADV is uncertain due to traffics and/or road condition changes. The planning module, when generating a path, also generate a confidence level of each segment of the path based on one or more of perception data, map information, or traffic rules. The confidence levels are decreasing further away from the ADV. When the control module of the ADV obtains the path and the associated confidence levels, the control module issue control commands to track only one or two segments whose confidence levels exceeds a threshold hold, and issue default control commands for the rest of the path.

Safety guaranteed control when planning with uncertainty

According to various embodiments, systems, methods, and media for evaluating an open space planner in an autonomous vehicle are disclosed. In one embodiment, an exemplary method includes receiving, at a profiling application, a record file recorded by the ADV while driving in an open space using the open space planner, and a configuration file specifying parameters of the ADV; extracting planning messages and prediction messages from the record file, each extracted message being associated with the open space planner. The method further includes generating features from the planning message and the prediction messages in view of the specified parameters of the ADV; and calculating statistical metrics from the features. The statistical metrics are then provided to an automatic tuning framework for tuning the open space planner.

Open space planner profiling tool for autonomous vehicle

A method of navigating an autonomous driving vehicle (ADV) includes determining a target function for an open space model based on one or more obstacles and map information within a proximity of the ADV, then iteratively performing first and second quadratic programming (QP) optimizations on the target function. Then, generating a second trajectory based on results of the first and second QP optimizations to control the ADV autonomously using the second trajectory. The first QP optimization is based on fixing a first set of variables of the target function. The second QP optimization is based on maximizing a sum of the distances from the ADV to each of the obstacles over a plurality of points of the first trajectory, and minimizing a difference between a target end-state of the ADV and a determined final state of the ADV using the first trajectory.

End dynamics and constraints relaxation algorithm on optimizing an open space trajectory

In one embodiment, a control command is generated with an MPC controller, the MPC controller including a cost function with weights associated with cost terms of the cost function. The control command is applied to a dynamic model of an autonomous driving vehicle (ADV) to simulate behavior of the ADV. One or more of the weights are based on evaluation of the dynamic model in response to the control command, resulting in an adjusted cost function of the MPC controller. Another control command is generated with the MPC controller having the adjusted cost function. This second control command can be used to effect movement of the ADV.

Learning based controller for autonomous driving

A simulation of an autonomous driving vehicle (ADV) includes capturing first data that includes a control command output by an autonomous vehicle controller of the ADV, and capturing second data that includes the control command being implemented at a control unit of the ADV. The control command, for example, a steering command, a braking command, or a throttle command, is implemented by the ADV to affect movement of the ADV. A latency model is determined based on comparing the first data with the second data, where the latency model defines time delay and/or amplitude difference between the first data and the second data. The latency model is applied in a virtual driving environment.

Dynamic model with actuation latency

In one embodiment, control of an autonomous driving vehicle (ADV) includes determining a current scenario of the ADV. Based on the scenario, a control algorithm is selected among a plurality of distinct control algorithms as the active control algorithm. One or more control commands are generated using the active control algorithm, based one or more target inputs. The control commands are applied to effect movement of the ADV.

Scenario based control of autonomous driving vehicle

Systems and methods are disclosed for optimizing values of a set of tunable parameters of an autonomous driving vehicle (ADV). The controllers can be a linear quadratic regular, a 'bicycle model,' a model-reference adaptive controller (MRAC) that reduces actuation latency in control subsystems such as steering, braking, and throttle, or other controller ('controllers'). An optimizer selects a set tunable parameters for the controllers. A task distribution system pairs each set of parameters with each of a plurality of simulated driving scenarios, and dispatches a task to the simulator to perform the simulation with the set of parameters. Each simulation is scored. A weighted score is generated from the simulation. The optimizer uses the weighted score as a target objective for a next iteration of the optimizer, for a fixed number of iterations. A physical real-world ADV is navigated using the optimized set of parameters for the controllers in the ADV.

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Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Shu Jiang