A computer-implemented method of determining control actions for controlling a mobile robot comprises: receiving a set of scenario description parameters describing a scenario and a desired goal for the mobile robot therein; in a first constrained optimization stage, applying a first optimizer to determine a first series of control actions that substantially globally optimizes a preliminary cost function for the scenario, the preliminary cost function based on a first computed trajectory of the mobile robot, as computed by applying a preliminary robot dynamics model to the first series of control actions, and in a second constrained optimization stage, applying a second optimizer to determine a second series of control actions that substantially globally optimizes a full cost function for the scenario, the full cost function based on a second computed trajectory of the mobile robot, as computed by applying a full robot dynamics model to the second series of control actions; wherein initialization data of at least one of the first computed trajectory and the first series of control actions is used to initialize the second optimizer for determining the second series of control actions, and wherein the preliminary robot dynamic model approximates the full robot dynamics model, the cost functions embody similar objectives to each encourage achievement of the desired goal, and both are optimized with respect to similar hard constraints, such that the initialization data guides the second optimizer to the substantially globally-optimal second series of control actions.

The vehicle control device sets a region including a stationary object on a road, calculates a passing position at which a host vehicle and an oncoming vehicle pass each other in accordance with a velocity of the host vehicle and a position and a velocity of the oncoming vehicle, calculates a first score that is a larger value as the velocity of the oncoming vehicle is greater, calculates a second score that is a larger value as an acceleration rate of the oncoming vehicle is greater, integrates the first score with the second score so as to calculate an integration score, and causes the host vehicle to decelerate when the integration score is greater than or equal to a predetermined value or causing the host vehicle to keep the velocity or accelerate when the integration score is smaller than the predetermined value.

In an overhead-structure recognition device to be mounted to a vehicle, a determination unit is configured to, in response to a vertical distance between an object of interest and a high-reflectivity object being greater than or equal to a predefined value of vertical distance, determine that the object of interest is an overhead structure which is a structure located above the vehicle that does not obstruct travel of the vehicle. The object of interest corresponds to a subset of interest among a plurality of subsets acquired by dividing range point cloud data. The high-reflectivity object is an object other than the object of interest, among objects corresponding to the respective subgroups, whose reflectance is greater than or equal to a predefined value of reflectance.

An apparatus, method and computer program product provide a map layer of one or more temporary dynamic obstructions. For example, the apparatus is configured to receive vehicle/driver behavior data associated with a vehicle at a portion of a road, determine a likelihood of a temporary dynamic obstruction existing proximate to the portion based on the vehicle behavior data, and update a datapoint of a map layer based on the likelihood. The datapoint indicates a state of existence of the temporary dynamic obstruction at the portion.

A method for minimizing disturbance due to wind forces of a trailer being towed by a vehicle. The method also includes receiving, at a data processing hardware data from a sensor system for the tow vehicle. The method also includes determining, at the data processing hardware, a passing object profile. The method also includes predicting, at the data processing hardware, a wind force profile based upon the sensor data the passing object profile. The method also includes determining, at the data processing hardware, at least one preventative action for the vehicle to minimize the effect of disturbance on the trailer.

In an overhead-structure recognition device to be mounted to a vehicle, a determination unit is configured to, in response to there being, among specific pieces of range point data each having a direction variable indicating a predefined direction, a predefined number or more of pieces of range point data each having a distance variable taking a plurality of values, determine that an object of interest corresponding to a subset of interest of pieces of range point data is an overhead structure. The predefined direction is a direction such that a horizontal angle difference from a direction indicated by the direction variable of the piece of range point data corresponding to the object of interest is within a predefined angle range and an angle with respect to a vertical direction is greater than an angle between the vertical direction and a direction of travel of the vehicle.

Provided are autonomous vehicles (AV), computer program products, and methods for maneuvering an AV in a roadway, including receiving forecast information associated with predicted trajectories of one or more actors in a roadway, determining a relevant trajectory of an actor based on correlating a forecast for predicted trajectories of the actor with the trajectory of the AV, regenerate a distance table for the relevant trajectory previously generated for processing constraints, generate a plurality of margins for the AV to evaluate, the margins based on a plurality of margin types for providing information about risks and effects on passenger comfort associated with a future proximity of the AV to the actor, classifying an interaction between the AV and the actor based on a plurality of margins, and generating continuous scores for each candidate trajectory that is also within the margin of the actor generated for the relevant trajectory.

A vehicle configured to operate in an autonomous mode can obtain sensor data from one or more sensors observing one or more aspects of an environment of the vehicle. At least one aspect of the environment of the vehicle that is not observed by the one or more sensors could be inferred based on the sensor data. The vehicle could be controlled in the autonomous mode based on the at least one inferred aspect of the environment of the vehicle.

A system for automatedly changing a first road lane of a vehicle to a second road lane to maintain engagement of an automated driving unit. The system comprises an ECU to check a location of the vehicle, defining a map segment of the first and second road lanes. The first road lane is a host lane that the vehicle occupies and the second road lane is an available lane. The ECU detects whether the first road lane has poor availability. The system further comprises a sensor to monitor availability of the first road lane. The system further comprises a backoffice to flag the first road lane if the first road lane is detected to have poor availability, to log the first road lane in an instance counter (IC), and to designate the first road lane as non-preferred if an occurrence threshold of the IC is reached. The system further comprises an automated lane change (ALC) unit to move the vehicle to the second road lane.

A system 100 for remote assistance of an autonomous agent can include and/or interface with any or all of: a sensor suite 110, a computing system 120, a communication interface 130, and/or any other suitable components. The system can further optionally include a set of infrastructure devices 140, a teleoperator platform 150, and/or any other suitable components. The system 100 functions to enable information to be exchanged between an autonomous agent and a tele-assist. Additionally or alternatively, the system 100 can function to operate the autonomous agent (e.g., based on remote inputs received from a teleoperator, indirectly, etc.) and/or can perform any other suitable functions.