Title: Model Predictive Control for Autonomous Driving Based on Time Scaled Collision Cone,
Abstract: In this paper, we present a Model Predictive Control (MPC) framework based on
path velocity decomposition paradigm for autonomous driving. The optimization
underlying the MPC has a two layer structure wherein first, an appropriate path
is computed for the vehicle followed by the computation of optimal forward
velocity along it. The very nature of the proposed path velocity decomposition
allows for seamless compatibility between the two layers of the optimization. A
key feature of the proposed work is that it offloads most of the responsibility
of collision avoidance to velocity optimization layer for which computationally
efficient formulations can be derived. In particular, we extend our previously
developed concept of time scaled collision cone (TSCC) constraints and
formulate the forward velocity optimization layer as a convex quadratic
programming problem. We perform validation on autonomous driving scenarios
wherein proposed MPC repeatedly solves both the optimization layers in receding
horizon manner to compute lane change, overtaking and merging maneuvers among
multiple dynamic obstacles.