Autonomous driving using imitation learning with look ahead point for semi structured environments

Abstract Semi-structured environments are difficult for autonomous driving because there are numerous unknown obstacles in drivable area without lanes, and its width and curvature considerably change. In such environments, searching for a path on a real-time is difficult, and localization data are i...

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Main Authors: Joonwoo Ahn, Minsoo Kim, Jaeheung Park
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2022-12-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-23546-6
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author Joonwoo Ahn
Minsoo Kim
Jaeheung Park
author_facet Joonwoo Ahn
Minsoo Kim
Jaeheung Park
author_sort Joonwoo Ahn
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Semi-structured environments are difficult for autonomous driving because there are numerous unknown obstacles in drivable area without lanes, and its width and curvature considerably change. In such environments, searching for a path on a real-time is difficult, and localization data are inaccurate, reducing path tracking accuracy. Instead, alternative methods that reactively avoid obstacles in real-time using candidate paths or an artificial potential field have been studied. However, these require heuristics to identify specific parameters for handling various environments and are vulnerable to inaccurate input data. To address these limitations, this study proposes a method in which a vehicle drives toward drivable area using vision and deep learning. The proposed imitation learning method learns the look-ahead point where the vehicle should reach on a vision-based occupancy grid map to obtain a safe policy with a clear state action pattern relationship. Furthermore, using this point, the data aggregation (DAgger) algorithm with weighted loss function is proposed, which imitates expert behavior more accurately, especially in unsafe or near-collision situations. Experimental results in actual semi-structured environments demonstrated the limitations of general model-based methods and the effectiveness of the proposed imitation learning method. Moreover, simulation experiments showed that DAgger with the weight obtains a safer policy than existing DAgger algorithms.
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spelling doaj.art-64b484c319e144a4a8b4d28abf37d91a2022-12-22T02:56:27ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-12-0112111710.1038/s41598-022-23546-6Autonomous driving using imitation learning with look ahead point for semi structured environmentsJoonwoo Ahn0Minsoo Kim1Jaeheung Park2Dynamic Robotic Systems (DYROS) Lab., Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National UniversityDynamic Robotic Systems (DYROS) Lab., Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National UniversityDynamic Robotic Systems (DYROS) Lab., Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National UniversityAbstract Semi-structured environments are difficult for autonomous driving because there are numerous unknown obstacles in drivable area without lanes, and its width and curvature considerably change. In such environments, searching for a path on a real-time is difficult, and localization data are inaccurate, reducing path tracking accuracy. Instead, alternative methods that reactively avoid obstacles in real-time using candidate paths or an artificial potential field have been studied. However, these require heuristics to identify specific parameters for handling various environments and are vulnerable to inaccurate input data. To address these limitations, this study proposes a method in which a vehicle drives toward drivable area using vision and deep learning. The proposed imitation learning method learns the look-ahead point where the vehicle should reach on a vision-based occupancy grid map to obtain a safe policy with a clear state action pattern relationship. Furthermore, using this point, the data aggregation (DAgger) algorithm with weighted loss function is proposed, which imitates expert behavior more accurately, especially in unsafe or near-collision situations. Experimental results in actual semi-structured environments demonstrated the limitations of general model-based methods and the effectiveness of the proposed imitation learning method. Moreover, simulation experiments showed that DAgger with the weight obtains a safer policy than existing DAgger algorithms.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-23546-6
spellingShingle Joonwoo Ahn
Minsoo Kim
Jaeheung Park
Autonomous driving using imitation learning with look ahead point for semi structured environments
Scientific Reports
title Autonomous driving using imitation learning with look ahead point for semi structured environments
title_full Autonomous driving using imitation learning with look ahead point for semi structured environments
title_fullStr Autonomous driving using imitation learning with look ahead point for semi structured environments
title_full_unstemmed Autonomous driving using imitation learning with look ahead point for semi structured environments
title_short Autonomous driving using imitation learning with look ahead point for semi structured environments
title_sort autonomous driving using imitation learning with look ahead point for semi structured environments
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-23546-6
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