Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide for the evaluation of a scheduling system software for managing autonomous vehicle scheduling and dispatching. For instance, a problem condition for a simulation may be identified. The simulation may be run using the identified problem condition. The simulation may include a plurality of simulated autonomous vehicles each utilizing its own autonomous vehicle control software and map information common to each simulated autonomous vehicle. The problem condition may relate to a particular simulated autonomous vehicle of the plurality. Output of the simulation may be analyzed to determine a score for the scheduling system software. The scheduling system software may be evaluated using the score.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle configured for active sensing may also be configured to weigh expected information gains from active-sensing actions against risk costs associated with the active-sensing actions. An example method involves: (a) receiving information from one or more sensors of an autonomous vehicle, (b) determining a risk-cost framework that indicates risk costs across a range of degrees to which an active-sensing action can be performed, wherein the active-sensing action comprises an action that is performable by the autonomous vehicle to potentially improve the information upon which at least one of the control processes for the autonomous vehicle is based, (c) determining an information-improvement expectation framework across the range of degrees to which the active-sensing action can be performed, and (d) applying the risk-cost framework and the information-improvement expectation framework to determine a degree to which the active-sensing action should be performed.

Abstract: A rotatable LIDAR device including contactless electrical couplings is disclosed. An example rotatable LIDAR device includes a vehicle electrical coupling including (i) a first conductive ring, (ii) a second conductive ring, and (iii) a first coil. The example rotatable LIDAR device further includes a LIDAR electrical coupling including (i) a third conductive ring, (ii) a fourth conductive ring, and (iii) a second coil. The example rotatable LIDAR device still further includes a rotatable LIDAR electrically coupled to the LIDAR electrical coupling. The first conductive ring and the third conductive ring form a first capacitor configured to transmit communications to the rotatable LIDAR, the second conductive ring and the fourth conductive ring form a second capacitor configured to transmit communications from the rotatable LIDAR, and the first coil and the second coil form a transformer configured to provide power to the rotatable LIDAR.

Abstract: A method includes identifying sensor data associated with corresponding distal ends of one or more axles of an autonomous vehicle (AV). The method further includes determining, based on the sensor data, mass distribution data of the AV. The mass distribution data is associated with a first load proximate a first distal end of a first axle of the AV and a second load proximate a second distal end of the first axle of the AV. The method further includes causing, based on the mass distribution data, performance of a corrective action associated with the AV.

Abstract: The technology relates controlling an autonomous vehicle through a multi-lane turn. In one example, data corresponding to a position of the autonomous vehicle in a lane of the multi-lane turn, a trajectory of the autonomous vehicle, and data corresponding to positions of objects in a vicinity of the autonomous vehicle may be received. A determination of whether the autonomous vehicle is positioned as a first vehicle in the lane or positioned behind another vehicle in the lane may be made based on a position of the autonomous vehicle in the lane relative to the positions of the objects. The trajectory of the autonomous vehicle through the lane may be adjusted based on whether the autonomous vehicle is positioned as a first vehicle in the lane or positioned behind another vehicle in the lane. The autonomous vehicle may be controlled based on the adjusted trajectory.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a first vehicle autonomously are disclosed. For instance, one or more processors may plan to maneuver the first vehicle to complete an action and predict that a second vehicle will take a particular responsive action. The first vehicle is then maneuvered towards completing the action in a way that would allow the first vehicle to cancel completing the action without causing a collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle, and in order to indicate to the second vehicle or a driver of the second vehicle that the first vehicle is attempting to complete the action. Thereafter, when the first vehicle is determined to be able to take the action, the action is completed by controlling the first vehicle autonomously according to whether the second vehicle begins to take the particular responsive action.

Abstract: Aspects and implementations of the present disclosure address shortcomings of the existing technology by enabling velocity estimation for efficient object identification and tracking in autonomous vehicle (AV) applications, including: obtaining, by a sensing system of the AV, a plurality of return points, each return point having a velocity value and coordinates of a reflecting region that reflects a signal emitted by the sensing system, identifying an association of the velocity values and the coordinates of return points with a motion of a physical object, the motion being a combination of a translational motion and a rotational motion of a rigid body, and causing a driving path of the AV to be determined in view of the motion of the physical object.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle is operated along a route according to a nominal driving solution that takes into account one or more first constraints including a first predicted trajectory for an agent vehicle. An alternate scenario is determined based on one or more second external constraints that include a second predicted trajectory for the agent vehicle different from the first predicted trajectory. A risk factor on the nominal driving solution is determined for the alternative scenario, and a secondary driving solution is determined based on the risk factor and the one or more second external constraints. A candidate switching point is identified where the secondary driving solution diverges from the nominal driving solution, and the nominal driving solution is revised up to the candidate switching point based on the secondary driving solution. The autonomous vehicle is then operated based on the revised nominal driving solution.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for occlusion detection. An example system includes a primary reflective surface and a rotatable mirror configured to rotate about a rotational axis. The rotatable mirror includes a plurality of secondary reflective surfaces. The system also includes an optical element and a camera that is configured to capture at least one image of the optical element by way of the primary reflective surface and at least one secondary reflective surface of the rotatable mirror.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide systems and methods for providing suggested locations for pick up and destination locations. Pick up locations may include locations where an autonomous vehicle can pick up a passenger, while destination locations may include locations where the vehicle can wait for an additional passenger, stop and wait for a passenger to perform some task and return to the vehicle, or for the vehicle to drop off a passenger. As such, a request for a vehicle may be received from a client computing device. The request may identify a first location. A set of one or more suggested locations may be selected by comparing the predetermined locations to the first location. The set may be provided to the client computing device.

Abstract: The described aspects and implementations enable efficient calibration of a sensing system of a vehicle. In one implementation, disclosed is a method and a system to perform the method, the system including the sensing system configured to obtain a plurality of images associated with a corresponding time of a plurality of times. The system further includes a data processing system operatively coupled to the sensing system and configured to generate a plurality of sets of feature tensors (FTs) associated with one or more objects of the environment depicted in a respective image. The data processing system is further to obtain a combined FT and process the combined FT using a neural network to identify one or more tracks characterizing motion of a respective object.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for using naturally collected data in sensor calibration. One of the methods includes obtaining, using a first, calibrated sensor, a first plurality of raw sensor measurements of an environment; determining, from the first plurality of raw sensor measurements, a Truncated Signed Distance Field (TSDF)-based model of surfaces in the environment; obtaining, using a second sensor, a second plurality of raw sensor measurements of the environment; determining a multi-dimensional point cloud representation of the environment; and determining refined values of the set of calibration parameters of the second sensor based on a difference between, for each data point, (i) the multiple values that define the data point and (ii) multiple values that define a target data point derived from the TSDF-based model of surfaces in the environment.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods relating to the fabrication of light guide elements. An example system includes an optical component configured to direct light emitted by a light source to illuminate a photoresist material at one or more desired angles so as to expose an angled structure in the photoresist material. The photoresist material overlays at least a portion of a first surface of a substrate. The optical component includes a container containing a light-coupling material that is selected based in part on the one or more desired angles. The system also includes a reflective surface arranged to reflect at least a first portion of the emitted light to illuminate the photoresist material at the one or more desired angles.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for providing supplemental identification abilities to an autonomous vehicle system. The sensor unit of the vehicle may be configured to receive data indicating an environment of the vehicle, while the control system may be configured to operate the vehicle. The vehicle may also include a processing unit configured to analyze the data indicating the environment to determine at least one object having a detection confidence below a threshold. Based on the at least one object having a detection confidence below a threshold, the processor may communicate at least a subset of the data indicating the environment for further processing. The vehicle is also configured to receive an indication of an object confirmation of the subset of the data. Based on the object confirmation of the subset of the data, the processor may alter the control of the vehicle by the control system.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle includes sensor subsystem(s) that output a sensor signal. A perception subsystem (i) detects an agent in a vicinity of the autonomous vehicle and (ii) generates a motion signal that describes at least one of a past motion or a present motion of the agent. An intention prediction subsystem processes the sensor signal to generate an intention signal that describes at least one intended action of the agent. A behavior prediction subsystem processes the motion signal and the intention signal to generate a behavior prediction signal that describes at least one predicted behavior of the agent. A planner subsystem processes the behavior prediction signal to plan a driving decision for the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: A method and system to provide timebase synchronization for multiple processors in a multi-processor sensor system, where each processor operates according to a respective reference clock, and where the processors' respective reference clocks are off sync from each other. An example method includes simultaneously injecting a synchronization pulse respectively into the multiple processors. Further, the method includes recording for each processor, according to the processor's respective reference clock, a respective synchronization-pulse timestamp of the simultaneously injected synchronization pulse, comparing the respective synchronization-pulse timestamps recorded for the processors, and, based on the comparing, computing for each processor a respective time offset. Additionally, the method includes using the per-processor computed time offsets as a basis to provide a synchronized timebase across the processors.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate switching between autonomous and manual driving modes. In order to do so, the vehicle's computer may conduct a series of environmental, system, and driver checks to identify certain conditions. The computer may correct some of these conditions and also provide a driver with a checklist of tasks for completion. Once the tasks have been completed and the conditions are changed, the computer may allow the driver to switch from the manual to the autonomous driving mode. The computer may also make a determination, under certain conditions, that it would be detrimental to the driver's safety or comfort to make a switch from the autonomous driving mode to the manual driving mode.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to pulse energy plans for light detection and ranging (lidar) devices based on areas of interest and thermal budgets. An example lidar device includes a plurality of light emitters configured to emit light pulses into an environment in a plurality of different emission directions. The lidar device also includes circuitry configured to power the plurality of light emitters. Further, the lidar device includes a plurality of detectors configured to detect reflections of light pulses emitted by the plurality of light emitters. In addition, the lidar device includes a controller configured to (i) determine a pulse energy plan based on one or more regions of interest in the environment and a thermal budget and (ii) control the circuitry based on the pulse energy plan. The pulse energy plan specifies a pulse energy level for each light pulse emitted by each light emitter in the plurality of light emitters.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to an air cooling system for an electronic spinning assembly. An example embodiment includes a plurality of vanes coupled to a static base. A vane cover is rotatably coupled to the static base. The vane cover includes at least one air inlet, at least one air duct extending from the vane cover, and at least one choke point disposed in the cover. The at least one choke point is configured to increase a pressure of the airflow.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to methods and systems for implementing radar electronic support measure operations. A vehicle's processing unit may receive information relating to electromagnetic energy radiating in an environment of the vehicle that is detected using a vehicle radar system. The electromagnetic energy originated from one or more external emitters, such as radar signals transmitted by other vehicles. The processing unit may determine a spectrum occupancy representation that indicates spectral regions occupied by the electromagnetic energy and subsequently adjust operation of the vehicle radar system based on the spectrum occupancy representation to reduce or mitigate interference with the external emitters in the vehicle's environment. In some examples, the vehicle radar system may be switched to a passive receive-only mode to measure the electromagnetic energy radiating in the environment from other emitters.