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Learning-based real-time model predictive tracking control for autonomous vehicles with path-pattern adaptability

delete2025-07-16
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PRE
AI
W
Wentong Shi
S
Shiying Dong
C
Chao Zhang
D
Dele Meng
洪金龙 (Jinlong Hong) *
H
Hongqing Chu
高炳钊 (Bingzhao Gao)
DOI:10.1016/j.conengprac.2025.106480delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Real-time implementation of nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) for path tracking in autonomous vehicles (AVs) remains challenging due to the computational complexity of solving high-dimensional, nonlinear optimization problems under dynamic constraints. To address this issue, this paper proposes a novel end-to-end training framework, called the neural network optimizer (NN Optimizer), which significantly reduces the computational burden of NMPC, enabling real-time implementation. Specifically, the NN Optimizer integrates low-fidelity, interpretable physical models with neural networks (NNs), utilizing automatic differentiation to backpropagate the NMPC loss function through a differentiable dynamics model to obtain policy gradients. As opposed to traditional imitation learning (IL)-based approaches, usually reliant on expert knowledge, the proposed method does not rely on extensive labeled data, offering greater interpretability and path-pattern adaptability. During online implementation, it just involves simple function evaluation, avoiding the computation of gradient information and multiple iterations. In two validation scenarios during co-simulation, the NN Optimizer achieves a solving speed over 70 times faster than interior point optimizer (IPOPT), while improving closed-loop control performance by more than 10% compared to IL. In real-vehicle tests, the NN optimizer outperforms the linear quadratic regulator (LQR), achieving improvements in control performance of over 30% in the weave scenario and over 60% in the double lane change (DLC) scenario.

Journal

Control Engineering Practice cover
Control Engineering Practice
IF:
4.6
Papers:
5.7K
Citations:
1.1W

Organization

T
tongji university
Scholars:
7.7W
Papers: 5.9W
Citations: 98
J
Jilin University
Scholars:
8.6W
Papers: 5.5W
Citations: 8.9K