IP Library Granted Patent US 12679409
Granted Patent B2
US 12679409 · App. 17/332,745 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Parameter space optimization

Inventors: Gerrit Bagschik (Foster City, CA); Andraz Kavalar (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
B60W60/0015G05B13/0275B60W2520/10B60W2552/00B60W2554/80
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12679409
App. No.
17/332,745
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Techniques for analyzing a parameter space are discussed. Techniques may include receiving policy data for evaluating a vehicle controller. The techniques may further include determining, using a Bayesian optimization and based at least in part on the vehicle controller, parameter sets associated with adverse events. The adverse events may be associated with a violation of the policy data. The techniques may associate, based on exposure data, parameter bounds of the adverse events and probabilities of the adverse events in a driving environment. A safety metric may be determined based on the Bayesian optimization. The techniques may also include weighting an impact of an adverse event based on the safety metric.

Claims (68)

1 . A method comprising:

receiving policy data for evaluating a vehicle controller;

determining, using a Bayesian optimization and based at least in part on the vehicle controller, parameter sets associated with adverse events, wherein the adverse events are associated with a violation of the policy data, wherein parameters in the parameter sets represent conditions of the vehicle controller and an object in a simulated environment, determined using the Bayesian optimization and based on the vehicle controller, resulting in an increased likelihood of a simulation resulting in the adverse events between the vehicle controller and the object;

associating, based on exposure data, bounds of the parameters of the parameters sets of the adverse events and probabilities of the adverse events in a driving environment, wherein the bounds of the parameters in the parameter sets include a minimum value and a maximum value of a distance, a velocity, or an acceleration;

determining a ratio between first results associated with first parameter value ranges indicating an adverse event occurred and second results associated with second parameter value ranges indicating a lack of the adverse event;

determining a safety metric based on the Bayesian optimization and the ratio; and

assigning a safety metric value to the adverse event.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining parameter sets associated with adverse events includes:

determining results of previous Bayesian optimizations; and

determining, based on the results of previous Bayesian optimizations, low frequency adverse events using a first Bayesian acquisition function.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the parameters are first parameters, and wherein second parameters in the parameter sets comprise one or more of:

a number of objects in an environment;

a type of an object in an environment;

a type of intersection;

a vehicle speed;

a distance from a vehicle represented by the vehicle controller to an additional object; and

a speed of the additional object.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the exposure data includes data captured by at least one vehicle during driving activities.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining whether the safety metric exceeds a threshold value for use in an autonomous vehicle.

6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

validating the Bayesian optimization for use in an autonomous vehicle controller responsive to determining that the safety metric exceeds the threshold value.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein associating the bounds of the parameters of the parameters sets of the adverse events and probabilities of the adverse events is performed using a Gaussian mixture model.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the Bayesian optimization uses a first acquisition function, the method further comprising:

iteratively evaluating the vehicle controller using the first acquisition function; and

based at least in part on a result of the first acquisition function, executing the vehicle controller using a second acquisition function;

wherein the first acquisition function is associated with exploring a parameter space and the second acquisition function is associated with optimizing simulations within the parameter space that are associated with low frequency adverse events.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein an adverse event of the adverse events includes an event in which executing the vehicle controller results in a violation of the policy data.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the policy data comprises one or more of:

a requirement to maintain a minimum distance between a vehicle representing the vehicle controller and another object;

a requirement to stay below a maximum speed;

a requirement to identify all objects in the driving environment; and

a requirement to stay within a driving lane.

11 . A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions executable by the one or more processors, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the system to perform operations comprising:

receiving policy data for evaluating a vehicle controller;

determining, using a Bayesian optimization and based at least in part on the vehicle controller, parameter sets associated with adverse events, wherein the adverse events are associated with a violation of the policy data, wherein parameters in the parameter sets represent conditions of the vehicle controller and an object in a simulated environment, determined using the Bayesian optimization and based on the vehicle controller, resulting in an increased likelihood of a simulation resulting in the adverse events between the vehicle controller and the object;

associating, based on exposure data, bounds of the parameters in the parameter sets of the adverse events and probabilities of the adverse events in a driving environment, wherein the bounds of parameters in the parameter sets include a minimum value and a maximum value of a distance, a velocity, or an acceleration;

determining a ratio between first results associated with first parameter value ranges indicating an adverse event occurred and second results associated with second parameter value ranges indicating a lack of the adverse event;

determining, based at least in part on the ratio, a safety metric;

assigning a safety metric value to the adverse event; and

determining whether the safety metric exceeds a threshold value for use in an autonomous vehicle.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the exposure data includes data captured by at least one vehicle during driving activities.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein associating the bounds of the parameters in the parameter sets of the adverse events and probabilities of the adverse events is performed using a Gaussian mixture model.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the Bayesian optimization uses a first acquisition function, the operations further comprising:

iteratively evaluating the vehicle controller using the first acquisition function; and

based at least in part on a result of the first acquisition function, executing the vehicle controller using a second acquisition function;

wherein the first acquisition function is associated with exploring a parameter space and the second acquisition function is associated with optimizing simulations within the parameter space that are associated with low frequency adverse events.

15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the adverse event includes an event in which executing the vehicle controller results in a violation of the policy data.

16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the policy data comprises one or more of:

a requirement to maintain a minimum distance between the autonomous vehicle and another object;

a requirement to stay below a maximum speed;

a requirement to identify all objects in the driving environment; and

a requirement to stay within a driving lane.

17 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving policy data for evaluating a vehicle controller;

determining, using a Bayesian optimization and based at least in part on the vehicle controller, parameter sets associated with adverse events, wherein the adverse events are associated with a violation of the policy data, wherein parameters in the parameter sets represent conditions of the vehicle controller and an object in a simulated environment, determined using the Bayesian optimization and based on the vehicle controller, resulting in an increased likelihood of a simulation resulting in the adverse events between the vehicle controller and the object;

associating, based on exposure data, bounds of the parameters in the parameter sets of the adverse events and probabilities of the adverse events in a driving environment, wherein the bounds of the parameters in the parameter sets include a minimum value and a maximum value of a distance, a velocity, and an acceleration;

determining a ratio between first results associated with first parameter value ranges indicating an adverse event occurred and second results associated with second parameter value ranges indicating a lack of the adverse event;

determining a safety metric based on the Bayesian optimization and the ratio; and

assigning a safety metric value to the adverse event.

18 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 17 , wherein determining parameter sets associated with adverse events includes:

determining results of previous Bayesian optimizations; and

determining, based on the results of previous Bayesian optimizations, low frequency adverse events using a first Bayesian acquisition function.

19 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise:

validating the Bayesian optimization for use in an autonomous vehicle controller responsive to determining that the safety metric exceeds a threshold value.

20 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 17 , wherein associating the bounds of the parameters in the parameter sets of the adverse events and probabilities of the adverse events is performed using a Gaussian mixture model.