Abstract: Disclosed is an improved motion planner that safely and proactively considers worst-case agent behavior by generating a worst-case homotopy for every nominal homotopy. In some embodiments, a method comprises: generating a first set of maneuvers to be performed by a vehicle in a scenario, the first set of maneuvers based on an expected behavior of at least one agent proximate to the vehicle; generating a second set of maneuvers to be performed by the vehicle, the second set of maneuvers based on worst case behavior of the at least one agent proximate to the vehicle; generating a set of candidate trajectories based on the first set of maneuvers and the second set of maneuvers; selecting a trajectory from the set of candidate trajectories; and generating, with the at least one processor, at least one control signal to operate the vehicle based on the selected trajectory.

Abstract: Provided are methods for determining a trajectory, which can include obtaining, using the at least one processor, sensor data associated with an environment in which a vehicle is operating, wherein the environment comprises one or more agents including a first agent; determining, using the at least one processor, based on the sensor data, a first prediction associated with the first agent; determining, using at least one processor, based on the first prediction, a primary homotopy; determining, using the at least one processor, based on the primary homotopy and the first prediction, one or more contingency homotopies associated with a contingency; determining, using the at least one processor, based on the primary homotopy and the one or more contingency homotopies, a primary trajectory; and providing, using the at least one processor, operation data associated with the primary trajectory to cause the vehicle to operate based on the primary trajectory.

Abstract: Provided are methods for agent prioritization, which can include determining a primary agent set and generating, based on the primary agent set, a trajectory for the autonomous vehicle. Some methods described also include determining an interaction parameter of agents in the environment. Systems and computer program products are also provided.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for foreground extraction from a point cloud (e.g., a LiDAR point cloud) using surface fitting. In an embodiment, one or more processors of a vehicle can receive point cloud data from one or more vehicle sensors. The one or more processors can identify points in the point cloud data as foreground points or ground points using a spatial Kalman filter to capture changes in the terrain. A route or trajectory in a driving area for the vehicle can be generated using the identified foreground points and ground points. A vehicle controller can control the vehicle while the vehicle is traveling on the route or trajectory in the driving area.

Abstract: Provided are methods for agent prioritization, which can include determining a primary agent set and generating, based on the primary agent set, a trajectory for the autonomous vehicle. Some methods described also include determining an interaction parameter of agents in the environment. Systems and computer program products are also provided.

Abstract: Provided are methods for agent prioritization, which can include determining a primary agent set and generating, based on the primary agent set, a trajectory for the autonomous vehicle. Some methods described also include determining an interaction parameter of agents in the environment. Systems and computer program products are also provided.

Abstract: Provided are methods for agent prioritization, which can include determining a primary agent set and generating, based on the primary agent set, a trajectory for the autonomous vehicle. Some methods described also include determining an interaction parameter of agents in the environment. Systems and computer program products are also provided.

Abstract: In some aspects and/or embodiments, systems, methods, and computer program products described herein include and/or implement technology for encoding dynamic homotopy constraints in spatio-temporal grids, including a method comprising: determining a plurality of dynamic homotopy constraints associated with a scenario involving a vehicle in an environment; embedding the plurality of dynamic homotopy constraints in a plurality of spatio-temporal grids, where each spatio-temporal grid includes individual grids for each timestep of a prediction horizon, generating a plurality of trajectories based on the plurality of dynamic homotopy constraints embedded in the plurality of spatio-temporal grids; selecting a particular trajectory from among the plurality of trajectories generated; and controlling the vehicle in the environment based on the particular trajectory selected from among the plurality of trajectories.

Abstract: Among other things, techniques are described for spatially and temporally consistent ground modelling with information fusion. A vehicle location and orientation is obtained and an instantaneous ground height estimation is obtained for anchor cells of a grid map of the vehicle based on the obtained vehicle location and orientation. A pseudo ground height associated with non-anchor cells of the grid map is computed. A Bayesian filtering framework is used to generate a final ground height estimate for the anchor cells and the non-anchor cells based on the instantaneous ground height estimation for the anchor cells, the pseudo ground height associated with non-anchor cells, an estimated ground height from a previous timestamp, or any combinations thereof. The vehicle operates according to the final ground height estimate.

Abstract: Among other things, techniques are described for obtaining a range image related to a depth sensor of a vehicle operating in an environment. A first data point is identified in the range image with an intensity at or below a first intensity threshold. A first number of data points are determined in the range image that have an intensity at or above a second intensity threshold in a first region of the range image. Then, it is determined whether the first number of data points is at or above a region number threshold. The first data point is removed from the range image if the first number of data points is at or above the region number threshold. Operation of the vehicle is then facilitated in the environment based at least in part on the range image. Other embodiments may be described or claimed.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for foreground extraction from a point cloud (e.g., a LiDAR point cloud) using surface fitting. In an embodiment, one or more processors of a vehicle can receive point cloud data from one or more vehicle sensors. The one or more processors can identify points in the point cloud data as foreground points or ground points using a spatial Kalman filter to capture changes in the terrain. A route or trajectory in a driving area for the vehicle can be generated using the identified foreground points and ground points. A vehicle controller can control the vehicle while the vehicle is traveling on the route or trajectory in the driving area.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for foreground extraction from a point cloud (e.g., a LiDAR point cloud) using surface fitting. In an embodiment, one or more processors of a vehicle can receive point cloud data from one or more vehicle sensors. The one or more processors can identify points in the point cloud data as foreground points or ground points using a spatial Kalman filter to capture changes in the terrain. A route or trajectory in a driving area for the vehicle can be generated using the identified foreground points and ground points. A vehicle controller can control the vehicle while the vehicle is traveling on the route or trajectory in the driving area.

Abstract: Among other things, techniques are described for obtaining a range image related to a depth sensor of a vehicle operating in an environment. A first data point is identified in the range image with an intensity at or below a first intensity threshold. A first number of data points are determined in the range image that have an intensity at or above a second intensity threshold in a first region of the range image. Then, it is determined whether the first number of data points is at or above a region number threshold. The first data point is removed from the range image if the first number of data points is at or above the region number threshold. Operation of the vehicle is then facilitated in the environment based at least in part on the range image. Other embodiments may be described or claimed.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for foreground extraction from a point cloud (e.g., a LiDAR point cloud) using surface fitting. In an embodiment, one or more processors of a vehicle can receive point cloud data from one or more vehicle sensors. The one or more processors can identify points in the point cloud data as foreground points or ground points using a spatial Kalman filter to capture changes in the terrain. A route or trajectory in a driving area for the vehicle can be generated using the identified foreground points and ground points. A vehicle controller can control the vehicle while the vehicle is traveling on the route or trajectory in the driving area.