IP Library Granted Patent US 12,204,823
Granted Patent B1
US 12,204,823 · App. 17/119,240 · Granted Jan 21, 2025

Generating perception scenarios for an autonomous vehicle from simulation data

Inventors: Steven Keith Capell (San Francisco, CA); Simon Box (San Francisco, CA); John Michael Wyrwas (Cupertino, CA)
Assignee: AURORA OPERATIONS, INC.
G06F30/20G05D1/0221G06N5/04G06N20/00G05D1/0231G05D1/0242G05D1/0257
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,204,823
App. No.
17/119,240
Granted
Jan 21, 2025
Kind
B1
Abstract

Simulation data of the autonomous vehicle is processed by executing a simulation based on the simulation data to generate a simulation result. Then a perception scenario is generated from the simulation result. The generated perception scenario is validated by verifying whether a constraint is satisfied to produce a validated perception scenario. The validated perception scenario can be used to create or refine a perception model used for controlling the operation of autonomous vehicles.

Claims (39)

1. A method for an autonomous vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving simulation data including the autonomous vehicle, the simulation data generated based on random sampling of snippets of logged data from a set of snippets of logged data associated with real-world driving, the random sampling of snippets of logged data based on an identifier identifying a specific characteristic in a snippet of logged data;

executing a first simulation of a planning subsystem of the autonomous vehicle based on the simulation data to generate a simulation result;

executing a second simulation of a perception subsystem of the autonomous vehicle using the simulation result as an input to generate an amended simulation result including ground truth data based on dynamic state information of one or more actors in the second simulation;

generating a perception scenario using the amended simulation result; and

validating the perception scenario by verifying whether a constraint is satisfied to produce a validated perception scenario.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing the validated perception scenario as a training input to machine learning engine to generate a perception model and a predicted output of the perception model; and

updating one or more weights in the perception model based on a difference between the predicted output and the amended simulation result.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the perception scenario is for a lidar sensor of the autonomous vehicle, and the perception model is for the lidar sensor.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the perception scenario is for a radar sensor of the autonomous vehicle and the perception model is for the radar sensor.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the perception scenario is for a camera of the autonomous vehicle and the perception model is for the camera.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the perception scenario is for a plurality of sensors of the autonomous vehicle, and the plurality of sensors are from a group of a lidar sensor, a radar sensor and a camera.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the validating the perception scenario verifies a tracking constraint.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the simulation data is generated from logged sensor data.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the logged sensor data is from a plurality of sensors.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the simulation data is generated from data from a simulation or a video game.

11. A system comprising one or more processors and memory operably coupled with the one or more processors, wherein the memory stores instructions that, in response to the execution of the instructions by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the following operations:

receiving simulation data including an autonomous vehicle, the simulation data generated based on random sampling of snippets of logged data from a set of snippets of logged data associated with real-world driving, the random sampling of snippets of logged data based on an identifier identifying a specific characteristic in a snippet of logged data;

executing a first simulation of a planning subsystem of the autonomous vehicle based on the simulation data to generate a simulation result;

executing a second simulation of a perception subsystem of the autonomous vehicle using the simulation result as an input to generate an amended simulation result including ground truth data based on dynamic state information of one or more actors in the second simulation;

generating a perception scenario using the amended simulation result; and

validating the perception scenario by verifying whether a constraint is satisfied to produce a validated perception scenario.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise:

providing the validated perception scenario as a training input to machine learning engine to generate a perception model and a predicted output of the perception model; and

updating one or more weights in the perception model based on a difference between the predicted output and the amended simulation result.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the perception scenario is for a lidar sensor of the autonomous vehicle, and the perception model is for the lidar sensor.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the perception scenario is for a radar sensor of the autonomous vehicle and the perception model is for the radar sensor.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the perception scenario is for a camera of the autonomous vehicle and the perception model is for the camera.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the perception scenario is for a plurality of sensors of the autonomous vehicle, and the plurality of sensors are from a group of a lidar sensor, a radar sensor and a camera.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the validating the perception scenario verifies a tracking constraint.

18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the simulation data is generated from logged sensor data and the logged sensor data is from a plurality of sensors.

19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the simulation data is generated from data from a simulation or a video game.

20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer instructions executable by one or more processors to perform a method of generating a perception model for an autonomous vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving simulation data including the autonomous vehicle, the simulation data generated based on random sampling of snippets of logged data from a set of snippets of logged data associated with real-world driving, the random sampling of snippets of logged data based on an identifier identifying a specific characteristic in a snippet of logged data;

executing a first simulation of a planning subsystem of the autonomous vehicle based on the simulation data to generate a simulation result;

executing a second simulation of a perception subsystem of the autonomous vehicle using the simulation result as an input to generate an amended simulation result including ground truth data based on dynamic state information of one or more actors in the second simulation;

generating a perception scenario using the amended simulation result; and

validating the perception scenario by verifying whether a constraint is satisfied to produce a validated perception scenario.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 30, 2021
From: AURORA INNOVATION OPCO, INC.
To: AURORA OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 056779/0958 →
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 29, 2021
From: AVIAN U MERGER SUB CORP.; AURORA INNOVATION, INC.
To: AURORA INNOVATION OPCO, INC.
Reel/Frame 056706/0473 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 11, 2020
From: CAPELL, STEVEN KEITH; BOX, SIMON; WYRWAS, JOHN MICHAEL
To: AURORA INNOVATION, INC.
Reel/Frame 054622/0058 →
Continuity (1)
Provisional Application 62988310 · Mar 11, 2020
References Cited (54)
US 7827011B2 · DeVaul et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 8036842B2 · DeVaul et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 9720415B2 · Levinson et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9836895B1 · Stout · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 10019011B1 · Green · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 10185999B1 · Konrardy et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10255168B2 · Stefan et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10831202B1 · Askeland et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10915762B1 · Russell · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11086319B2 · Valois et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11087477B2 · Choi · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11200359B2 · Wyrwas · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11562556B1 · Kabzan · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20170123428A1 · Levinson et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170371348A1 · Mou · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20180136644A1 · Levinson et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180275658A1 · Iandola et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190025841A1 · Haynes · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20190129436A1 · Sun et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190152492A1 · el Kaliouby et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190303759A1 · Farabet et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20200005631A1 · Visintainer et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200074230A1 · Englard et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200082034A1 · Sholingar · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200097007A1 · Dyer et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200125112A1 · Mao et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200150665A1 · Refaat et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200183387A1 · Teit et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200293054A1 · George et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20210018916A1 · Thakur et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210103742A1 · Adeli-Mosabbeb et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210146919A1 · Xu et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210263152A1 · Halder · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210309248A1 · Choe · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210403035A1 · Danna · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20220116052A1 · Silberman · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220126864A1 · Moustafa · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220153314A1 · Suo · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220318464A1 · Xu · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220335624A1 · Maurer · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220366494A1 · Cella · 2022 [cited by applicant]
WO 2019199880A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO 2022251692A1 · 2022 [cited by applicant]
Krajewski, Robert, et al. “The highd dataset: A drone dataset of naturalistic vehicle trajectories on german highways for validation of highly automated driving systems.” 2018 21st international conference on intelligen… [cited by examiner]
Zhu, Meixin, Xuesong Wang, and Yinhai Wang. “Human-like autonomous car-following model with deep reinforcement learning.” Transportation research part C: emerging technologies 97 (2018): 348-368. (Year: 2018). [cited by examiner]
International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2021/021878, mailed Jun. 22, 2021, 15 pgs. [cited by applicant]
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for PCT/US2021/021878, mailed Sep. 22, 2022, 9 pgs. [cited by applicant]
Communication Pursuant to Rules 161(1) and 162 EPC for European Patent Application No. 21715441.8, dated Oct. 18, 2022, 3 pgs. [cited by applicant]
Queiroz, Rodrigo et al., “GeoScenario: an Open DSL for Autonomous Driving Scenario Representation”, 2019 IEEE Intelligent Vehicles Symposium (IV), Jun. 9-12, 2019, 8 pgs. [cited by applicant]
Product Marketing, “Autonomous Vehicle Modeling & Simulation”, https://simulatemore.mscsoftware.com/autonomous-vehicle-modeling-simulation/, Jul. 17, 2018, retrieved Jan. 10, 2020, 7 pgs. [cited by applicant]
Southward, Charles M. II, “Autonomous Convoy Study of Unmanned Ground Vehicles Using Visual Snakes”, Master's Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, May 1, 2007, 78 p… [cited by applicant]
Rosique, Francisca et al., “A Systematic Review of Perception System and Simulators for Autonomous Vehicles Research”, Sensors 2019, 19, 648; doi:10.3390/s19030648, Feb. 5, 2019, 29 pgs. [cited by applicant]
Huang, Wu ling, et al. “Autonomous vehicles testing methods review.” 2016 IEEE 19th International Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSC). IEEE, 2016. [cited by applicant]
Rosique, Francisca, et al. “A systematic review of perception system and simulators for autonomous vehicles research.” Sensors 19.3 (2019): 648. [cited by applicant]
Cited By (3)
US 12,466,442 US 12,528,516 US 12,626,517