Abstract: A data-driven prediction-based system and method for trajectory planning of autonomous vehicles are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: generating a first suggested trajectory for an autonomous vehicle; generating predicted resulting trajectories of proximate agents using a prediction module; scoring the first suggested trajectory based on the predicted resulting trajectories of the proximate agents; generating a second suggested trajectory for the autonomous vehicle and generating corresponding predicted resulting trajectories of proximate agents, if the score of the first suggested trajectory is below a minimum acceptable threshold; and outputting a suggested trajectory for the autonomous vehicle wherein the score corresponding to the suggested trajectory is at or above the minimum acceptable threshold.

Abstract: A system and method for adaptive cruise control with proximate vehicle detection are disclosed. The example embodiment can be configured for: receiving input object data from a subsystem of a host vehicle, the input object data including distance data and velocity data relative to detected target vehicles; detecting the presence of any target vehicles within a sensitive zone in front of the host vehicle, to the left of the host vehicle, and to the right of the host vehicle; determining a relative speed and a separation distance between each of the detected target vehicles relative to the host vehicle; and generating a velocity command to adjust a speed of the host vehicle based on the relative speeds and separation distances between the host vehicle and the detected target vehicles to maintain a safe separation between the host vehicle and the target vehicles.

Abstract: A system and method for using human driving patterns to manage speed control for autonomous vehicles are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: generating data corresponding to desired human driving behaviors; training a human driving model module using a reinforcement learning process and the desired human driving behaviors; receiving a proposed vehicle speed control command; determining if the proposed vehicle speed control command conforms to the desired human driving behaviors by use of the human driving model module; and validating or modifying the proposed vehicle speed control command based on the determination.

Abstract: A system and method for autonomous vehicle control to minimize energy cost are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: generating a plurality of potential routings and related vehicle motion control operations for an autonomous vehicle to cause the autonomous vehicle to transit from a current position to a desired destination; generating predicted energy consumption rates for each of the potential routings and related vehicle motion control operations using a vehicle energy consumption model; scoring each of the plurality of potential routings and related vehicle motion control operations based on the corresponding predicted energy consumption rates; selecting one of the plurality of potential routings and related vehicle motion control operations having a score within an acceptable range; and outputting a vehicle motion control output representing the selected one of the plurality of potential routings and related vehicle motion control operations.

Abstract: A system and method for generating simulated vehicles with configured behaviors for analyzing autonomous vehicle motion planners are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: obtaining configuration instructions and data for each of a plurality of simulated vehicles, a specific driving behavior for each of the plurality of simulated vehicles corresponding to perception data obtained from perception data sensors; and generating a plurality of trajectories and acceleration profiles to transition each of the plurality of simulated vehicles from a current position and speed to a corresponding target position and target speed, the target position and the target speed corresponding to the specific driving behavior for each of the plurality of simulated vehicles.

Abstract: A system and method for real world autonomous vehicle trajectory simulation may include: receiving training data from a data collection system; obtaining ground truth data corresponding to the training data; performing a training phase to train a plurality of trajectory prediction models; and performing a simulation or operational phase to generate a vicinal scenario for each simulated vehicle in an iteration of a simulation. Vicinal scenarios may correspond to different locations, traffic patterns, or environmental conditions being simulated. Vehicle intention data corresponding to a data representation of various types of simulated vehicle or driver intentions.

Abstract: A system and method for providing multiple agents for decision making, trajectory planning, and control for autonomous vehicles are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for real world autonomous vehicle perception simulation are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: configuring a sensor noise modeling module to produce simulated sensor errors or noise data with a configured degree, extent, and timing of simulated sensor errors or noise based on a set of modifiable parameters; using the simulated sensor errors or noise data to generate simulated perception data by simulating errors related to constraints of one or more of a plurality of sensors, and by simulating noise in data provided by a sensor processing module corresponding to one or more of the plurality of sensors; and providing the simulated perception data to a motion planning system for the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle simulation system for analyzing motion planners is disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: receiving map data corresponding to a real world driving environment; obtaining perception data and configuration data including pre-defined parameters and executables defining a specific driving behavior for each of a plurality of simulated dynamic vehicles; generating simulated perception data for each of the plurality of simulated dynamic vehicles based on the map data, the perception data, and the configuration data; receiving vehicle control messages from an autonomous vehicle control system; and simulating the operation and behavior of a real world autonomous vehicle based on the vehicle control messages received from the autonomous vehicle control system.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle simulation system for analyzing motion planners is disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: receiving map data corresponding to a real world driving environment; obtaining perception data and configuration data including pre-defined parameters and executables defining a specific driving behavior for each of a plurality of simulated dynamic vehicles; generating simulated perception data for each of the plurality of simulated dynamic vehicles based on the map data, the perception data, and the configuration data; receiving vehicle control messages from an autonomous vehicle control system; and simulating the operation and behavior of a real world autonomous vehicle based on the vehicle control messages received from the autonomous vehicle control system.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing a neural network based vehicle dynamics model are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: training a machine learning system with a training dataset corresponding to a desired autonomous vehicle simulation environment; receiving vehicle control command data and vehicle status data, the vehicle control command data not including vehicle component types or characteristics of a specific vehicle; by use of the trained machine learning system, the vehicle control command data, and vehicle status data, generating simulated vehicle dynamics data including predicted vehicle acceleration data; providing the simulated vehicle dynamics data to an autonomous vehicle simulation system implementing the autonomous vehicle simulation environment; and using data produced by the autonomous vehicle simulation system to modify the vehicle status data for a subsequent iteration.

Abstract: A system and method for using human driving patterns to detect and correct abnormal driving behaviors of autonomous vehicles are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: generating data corresponding to a normal driving behavior safe zone; receiving a compliant vehicle control command; comparing the compliant vehicle control command with the normal driving behavior safe zone; and issuing a warning alert if the compliant vehicle control command is outside of the normal driving behavior safe zone. Another embodiment includes modifying the compliant vehicle control command to produce a modified and validated vehicle control command if the compliant vehicle control command is outside of the normal driving behavior safe zone.

Abstract: A data-driven prediction-based system and method for trajectory planning of autonomous vehicles are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: generating a first suggested trajectory for an autonomous vehicle; generating predicted resulting trajectories of proximate agents using a prediction module; scoring the first suggested trajectory based on the predicted resulting trajectories of the proximate agents; generating a second suggested trajectory for the autonomous vehicle and generating corresponding predicted resulting trajectories of proximate agents, if the score of the first suggested trajectory is below a minimum acceptable threshold; and outputting a suggested trajectory for the autonomous vehicle wherein the score corresponding to the suggested trajectory is at or above the minimum acceptable threshold.

Abstract: A system and method for using human driving patterns to manage speed control for autonomous vehicles are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: generating data corresponding to desired human driving behaviors; training a human driving model module using a reinforcement learning process and the desired human driving behaviors; receiving a proposed vehicle speed control command; determining if the proposed vehicle speed control command conforms to the desired human driving behaviors by use of the human driving model module; and validating or modifying the proposed vehicle speed control command based on the determination.

Abstract: A system and method for real world autonomous vehicle perception simulation are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: configuring a sensor noise modeling module to produce simulated sensor errors or noise data with a configured degree, extent, and timing of simulated sensor errors or noise based on a set of modifiable parameters; using the simulated sensor errors or noise data to generate simulated perception data by simulating errors related to constraints of one or more of a plurality of sensors, and by simulating noise in data provided by a sensor processing module corresponding to one or more of the plurality of sensors; and providing the simulated perception data to a motion planning system for the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing a neural network based vehicle dynamics model are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: training a machine learning system with a training dataset corresponding to a desired autonomous vehicle simulation environment; receiving vehicle control command data and vehicle status data, the vehicle control command data not including vehicle component types or characteristics of a specific vehicle; by use of the trained machine learning system, the vehicle control command data, and vehicle status data, generating simulated vehicle dynamics data including predicted vehicle acceleration data; providing the simulated vehicle dynamics data to an autonomous vehicle simulation system implementing the autonomous vehicle simulation environment; and using data produced by the autonomous vehicle simulation system to modify the vehicle status data for a subsequent iteration.

Abstract: A prediction-based system and method for trajectory planning of autonomous vehicles is configured to: receive data from a training data collection system, the training data including perception data and context data corresponding to human driving behaviors; perform a training phase for training a trajectory prediction module using the training data; receive perception data associated with a host vehicle; and perform an operational phase for extracting host vehicle feature data and proximate vehicle context data from the perception data, generating a proposed trajectory for the host vehicle, using the trained trajectory prediction module to generate predicted trajectories for each of one or more proximate vehicles near the host vehicle based on the proposed host vehicle trajectory, determining if the proposed trajectory for the host vehicle will conflict with any of the predicted trajectories of the proximate vehicles, and modifying the proposed trajectory for the host vehicle until conflicts are eliminated.

Abstract: A system and method for using human driving patterns to manage speed control for autonomous vehicles are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: generating data corresponding to desired human driving behaviors; training a human driving model module using a reinforcement learning process and the desired human driving behaviors; receiving a proposed vehicle speed control command; determining if the proposed vehicle speed control command conforms to the desired human driving behaviors by use of the human driving model module; and validating or modifying the proposed vehicle speed control command based on the determination.

Abstract: A system and method for using human driving patterns to detect and correct abnormal driving behaviors of autonomous vehicles are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: generating data corresponding to a normal driving behavior safe zone; receiving a proposed vehicle control command; comparing the proposed vehicle control command with the normal driving behavior safe zone; and issuing a warning alert if the proposed vehicle control command is outside of the normal driving behavior safe zone. Another embodiment includes modifying the proposed vehicle control command to produce a modified and validated vehicle control command if the proposed vehicle control command is outside of the normal driving behavior safe zone.

Abstract: A system and method for real world autonomous vehicle trajectory simulation may include: receiving training data from a data collection system; obtaining ground truth data corresponding to the training data; performing a training phase to train a plurality of trajectory prediction models; and performing a simulation or operational phase to generate a vicinal scenario for each simulated vehicle in an iteration of a simulation. Vicinal scenarios may correspond to different locations, traffic patterns, or environmental conditions being simulated. Vehicle intention data corresponding to a data representation of various types of simulated vehicle or driver intentions.